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noun

juju

JOOD-zhoo

Juju (noun) means a charm or object believed, in some West African traditions, to hold magical or protective power. Example: “He carried a small juju for good luck before the trip.”

noun
1
A charm or object believed, in some West African traditions, to hold magical or protective power.
"He carried a small juju for good luck before the trip."
2
Informal: good or bad luck seen as building up around a person or situation, almost like karma.
"Don't mess with the team's juju right before the final."

How to use juju

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA magic charm, or informally, a run of good or bad luck.

Word forms

jujus plural, jujus plural

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He carried a small _____ for good luck before the trip.

Etymology

Borrowed from a West African language, likely originally from French joujou, meaning "toy."

Origin: French

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “juju” mean?

The word “juju” means a charm or object believed, in some West African traditions, to hold magical or protective power. In plain terms, a magic charm, or informally, a run of good or bad luck.

How do you pronounce “juju”?

“Juju” is pronounced JOOD-zhoo (/ˈd͡ʒuːd͡ʒu/ in IPA).

How do you use “juju” in a sentence?

Here is “juju” used in a sentence: “He carried a small juju for good luck before the trip.”

What part of speech is “juju”?

“Juju” is a noun.

Where does the word “juju” come from?

The word “juju” comes from French. Borrowed from a West African language, likely originally from French joujou, meaning "toy.".

How many meanings does “juju” have?

“Juju” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a charm or object believed, in some West African traditions, to hold magical or protective power.

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