Quick answer
Juju means spiritual power, a charm, or a special aura of influence or luck. It is usually pronounced JOO-joo, and today it is mostly used in stylized, literary, or playful contexts.
Word page
Juju
Juju means spiritual power, a charm, or a special aura of influence or luck. It belongs to magical, mythic, and mysterious words and works best in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor. You are more likely to meet it in literary, humorous, or deliberately stylized writing than in everyday speech.
At a glance
magicmythicmysterious
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, juju refers to spiritual power, a charm, or a special aura of influence or luck. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Juju feels absurd because its repeated sounds give it a bounce or wobble that makes the word feel half descriptive and half sound effect.
Origin and history
Juju is generally traced to entered English through West African cultural contact and colonial-era usage. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Juju is rare today and mostly appears in literary, humorous, historical, or deliberately stylized contexts. That rarity is part of the fun: it sounds chosen rather than automatic.
Example sentences
- The column dismissed the whole rumor as juju.
- In the novel, one juju is enough to derail the dinner party.
- She used juju in the essay because the plain modern word felt too bland.
- The teacher paused to explain juju before asking the class to use it in context.
- They kept repeating juju because the sound of it was almost as memorable as the meaning.
When should you use this word?
Use juju when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor.
Similar words
Abracadabra, Alchemy, Jabber, Jabbernowl, Jackanapes
Opposite or contrasting words
ordinary explanation, plain realism, mundane language
Common questions
- What does juju mean? Spiritual power, a charm, or a special aura of influence or luck.
- How do you pronounce juju? It is commonly pronounced JOO-joo.
- Is juju still used today? Juju is rare today and mostly appears in literary, humorous, historical, or deliberately stylized contexts. That rarity is part of the fun: it sounds chosen rather than automatic.
- When should you use juju? Use juju when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor.
- What words are similar to juju? Similar words include Abracadabra, Alchemy, Jabber, and Jabbernowl.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.