Juju
/ˈdʒuːdʒuː/noun
A form of magical power, charm, or object believed to bring luck or influence events, especially in West African and African diasporic contexts.
Did you know?English got juju through West African contact, and in many contexts it refers not to “cute magic” but to serious spiritual force, showing how colonial languages often flattened powerful indigenous traditions into one exotic-sounding word.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
juju
“A charm, fetish, or supposed magical influence in West African and colonial usage.”
19th Century
West African Pidgin English
juju
“A magical charm, object, or ritual power.”
19th Century
French
joujou
“A toy; something to play with.”
18th Century
French
joujou
“A child’s toy or plaything, reduplicated from jouer, “to play.””
Latin
Latin
jocāri
“To jest, joke, or play.”