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.
"Pendants round the neck, bangles round the wrists or ankles, potatoes or nutmegs in the pocket are as old or older than civilisation, carrying the same prophylactic magic as any juju in an African witchdoctor's armamentarium."
— F. Dudley Hart, History of the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (1976)
"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 notesIn plain EnglishA magic charm, or informally, a run of good or bad luck.
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Word forms
- Plural
- jujus
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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."
Synonyms
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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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