adv
Common
Mo
MOH
Mo (adv) means informal shortening of "moment"; used in phrases like "half a mo" or "wait a mo.". Example: “Hang on a mo, I'll be right there.”
adv
1
Informal shortening of "moment"; used in phrases like "half a mo" or "wait a mo."
"Hang on a mo, I'll be right there."
noun
1
Informal word for a moustache, chiefly in Australian and British English.
"He grew a mo for charity in November."
How to use Mo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCasual short form of "moment" (wait a mo) or, separately, slang for "moustache."
When to use it
Very informal — mainly spoken British/Australian English.
Common pairings
half a mo
grow a mo
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Word forms
- Plural
- mos
Fill the gap
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Hang on a _____, I'll be right there.
Etymology
A transliteration of Chinese 莫 (mò).
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Mo” mean?
The word “Mo” means informal shortening of "moment"; used in phrases like "half a mo" or "wait a mo.". In plain terms, casual short form of "moment" (wait a mo) or, separately, slang for "moustache.".
How do you pronounce “Mo”?
“Mo” is pronounced MOH (/ˈməʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Mo” in a sentence?
Here is “Mo” used in a sentence: “Hang on a mo, I'll be right there.”
What part of speech is “Mo”?
Depending on how it is used, “Mo” can be an adverb and a noun.
Is “Mo” a common word?
“Mo” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Mo” have?
“Mo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal shortening of "moment"; used in phrases like "half a mo" or "wait a mo.".
What is the difference between "a mo" and "a sec"?
Both are informal ways of asking for a very short amount of time. Mo is a clipping of "moment" and is heard chiefly in British English, while sec clips "second" and is common everywhere. In practice they are interchangeable: "give me a mo" and "give me a sec" mean the same thing.
Why is a moustache called a mo?
Mo is simply an informal shortening of "moustache," used chiefly in Australian and British English. You might hear someone say a man is "growing a mo" for charity.
Is mo acceptable in formal writing?
No — both senses of mo are informal. In formal writing, use "moment" for the time sense and "moustache" for the facial-hair sense; keep mo for casual speech, texts, and chatty writing.
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