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Jo. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Jo, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Jo in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
Jo you have here. The definition of the word
Jo will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
Jo, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
Clipping or hypochoristic form of various female given names beginning with Jo..., primarily Joan, Joanna, etc. but also Josephine and Jolene.
Doublet of Ivanka, Jan, Janelle, Janet, Janey, Janine, Jeanette, Jeanie, Jeannette, Jeannine, Jen, Jenna, Jenny, Jessie, Jody, Juanita, Shanae, Sinead, and Vanna in reference to the first derivation.
Proper noun
Jo
- A female given name.
1888, Marietta Holley, Josiah Allen's Wife as a P.A. and P.I.: Samantha at the Centennial, page 577:"Its name is Samantha Jo, after Josiah and me. You know they call girls Jo and Josie a sight lately; its name is agreeable to Josiah and me, very.
Usage notes
Primarily used as a nickname but also occasionally used as a formal given name, especially in conjoined names such as Jo Ann and Mary Jo.
Alternative forms
Derived terms
Etymology 2
Variant of Joe, diminutive form of Joseph, Josiah, etc.
Proper noun
Jo
- (rare) Alternative form of Joe.
1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, “Chapter XI”, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, , published 1853, →OCLC:Name, Jo. Nothing else that he knows on. Don't know that everybody has two names. Never heerd of sich a think. Don't know that Jo is short for a longer name. Thinks it long enough for him. He don't find no fault with it. Spell it? No. He can't spell it.
Derived terms
Anagrams
Dutch
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Jo f
- a female given name, a pet name diminutive of Johanna or Josefien
French
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Jo m or f
- a unisex given name, a pet name diminutive of Joanne, Joanna, Josée, José, Joseph, etc.
German
Proper noun
Jo m
- (biblical, rare) Abbreviation of Johannes (Gospel of John): Joh.
Luxembourgish
Etymology
From jo (“yes”).
Pronunciation
Noun
Jo m (uncountable)
- a yes
Antonyms
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology 1
Short form of names with the element jo (such as Jostein and Jorid), from jór (“horse”).
Proper noun
Jo m (definite Joen)
- a male given name
Proper noun
Jo f (definite Joa)
- a female given name
Etymology 2
- a male given name, variant of Jon, equivalent to English John
- (rare) a female given name, short for Josefine, Johanne etc.