"ayo" meaning in English

See ayo in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Interjection

IPA: /ˈeɪ.(j)oʊ/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ayo.wav [Southern-England]
Etymology: Combination of hey and yo.
  1. (slang) A greeting. Tags: US, error-unknown-tag, slang Synonyms: hey, hi, yo
    Sense id: en-ayo-en-intj-wMikTRDM Categories (other): American English, English greetings Disambiguation of American English: 10 43 46 Disambiguation of English greetings: 64 12 16 8
  2. (slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner. Tags: US, error-unknown-tag, slang
    Sense id: en-ayo-en-intj-YZ3mgwkY Categories (other): African-American Vernacular English, American English Disambiguation of African-American Vernacular English: 10 45 46 Disambiguation of American English: 10 43 46
  3. (slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner.
    (extensively) Used to imply that what was said is inappropriate, perhaps sexually so.
    Tags: US, error-unknown-tag, slang Synonyms: hold up
    Sense id: en-ayo-en-intj-UEcR4HQ9 Categories (other): African-American Vernacular English, American English Disambiguation of African-American Vernacular English: 10 45 46 Disambiguation of American English: 10 43 46
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: ayo chill
Etymology number: 1

Noun

IPA: /ˈa.jo/
Etymology: From Yoruba ayò, an abridged form of ayò ọlọ́pọ́n. Etymology templates: {{der|en|yo|ayò}} Yoruba ayò Head templates: {{en-noun|-}} ayo (uncountable)
  1. (West Africa) A type of mancala strategy game played by the Yoruba. Tags: Africa, West, uncountable Related terms: awari, ayoayo, oware
    Sense id: en-ayo-en-noun-ntMs2wgo Categories (other): West African English, English entries with incorrect language header, Pages with 18 entries Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 8 21 21 49 Disambiguation of Pages with 18 entries: 7 2 0 8 3 1 8 2 4 4 11 2 1 1 0 11 1 1 0 2 14 1 0 5 1 7 2
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 2

Alternative forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0",
      "word": "ayo chill"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": "1",
  "etymology_text": "Combination of hey and yo.",
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "intj",
  "senses": [
    {
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        {
          "_dis": "10 43 46",
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          "_dis": "64 12 16 8",
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          "text": "\"Ayo, Red. It's the homie Spits on the jack for you, blood.\" \"Ayo, homeboy,\" said Red as he excitedly picked up the telephone receiver. \"What's up, fool?\"",
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          "ref": "2007, Reginald L. Hall, In Love with a Thug, page 38:",
          "text": "“Ayo, wassup, girl,” he said to Keisha as he continued to walk toward the back area where I stood. […] “Ayo, wassup, playa?",
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          "ref": "2007, Tony J. Ward, Jr., I've Got to Make It to Heaven for Going Through Hell: Part 1, page 39:",
          "text": "Ayo Toine, you think they'd put me down?",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
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          "ref": "2007, Nikki Turner, Christmas in the Hood, page 289:",
          "text": "\"Ayo, fam, you a'ight down there?\" Victorious's cell mate asked.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
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          "ref": "2008, Treasure Hernandez, Resurrection, page 106:",
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          "ref": "2008, Ashley JaQuavis, The Trophy Wife, page 103:",
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        },
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          "text": "\"Ayo, Cee, listen to this shit here,\" said Matt, passing him his cell.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
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      "glosses": [
        "A greeting."
      ],
      "id": "en-ayo-en-intj-wMikTRDM",
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) A greeting."
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        {
          "word": "hey"
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        {
          "word": "hi"
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        {
          "word": "yo"
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        "Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner."
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        "(slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner."
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          "text": "Ayo, what'd you just say?",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner.",
        "Used to imply that what was said is inappropriate, perhaps sexually so."
      ],
      "id": "en-ayo-en-intj-UEcR4HQ9",
      "links": [
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        "(slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner.",
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      ],
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          "word": "hold up"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US",
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        "slang"
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  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈeɪ.(j)oʊ/"
    },
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      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ]
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  "word": "ayo"
}

{
  "etymology_number": "2",
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
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        "2": "yo",
        "3": "ayò"
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      "expansion": "Yoruba ayò",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
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  "head_templates": [
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        "A type of mancala strategy game played by the Yoruba."
      ],
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      "links": [
        [
          "mancala",
          "mancala"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(West Africa) A type of mancala strategy game played by the Yoruba."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "awari"
        },
        {
          "word": "ayoayo"
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        {
          "word": "oware"
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      "tags": [
        "Africa",
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    {
      "ipa": "/ˈa.jo/"
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}
{
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    "American English",
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    "English greetings",
    "English interjections",
    "English lemmas",
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    "English terms derived from Yoruba",
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  ],
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    {
      "word": "ayo chill"
    }
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  "etymology_number": "1",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
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  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English slang",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
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              1,
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          "ref": "2004, Michael Daniel Baptiste, Cracked Dreams, page 73:",
          "text": "\"Ayo, Red. It's the homie Spits on the jack for you, blood.\" \"Ayo, homeboy,\" said Red as he excitedly picked up the telephone receiver. \"What's up, fool?\"",
          "type": "quotation"
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          "text": "“Ayo, wassup, girl,” he said to Keisha as he continued to walk toward the back area where I stood. […] “Ayo, wassup, playa?",
          "type": "quotation"
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          "ref": "2007, Tony J. Ward, Jr., I've Got to Make It to Heaven for Going Through Hell: Part 1, page 39:",
          "text": "Ayo Toine, you think they'd put me down?",
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            [
              1,
              4
            ]
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          "ref": "2007, Nikki Turner, Christmas in the Hood, page 289:",
          "text": "\"Ayo, fam, you a'ight down there?\" Victorious's cell mate asked.",
          "type": "quotation"
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        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              1,
              4
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          "ref": "2008, Treasure Hernandez, Resurrection, page 106:",
          "text": "\"Ayo, ma, where you going?\" a dude asked her as she walked by him.",
          "type": "quotation"
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            [
              1,
              4
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          "ref": "2008, Ashley JaQuavis, The Trophy Wife, page 103:",
          "text": "\"Ayo, Kalil!\" a man's voice said from amidst the crowd. Kalil looked up and saw his lil' man, Peanut, distributing packets of heroin and taking money from the fiends.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              1,
              4
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2010, R Green Damon, Somethin' to Think about, page 197:",
          "text": "\"Ayo, Cee, listen to this shit here,\" said Matt, passing him his cell.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A greeting."
      ],
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        [
          "greeting",
          "greeting#Noun"
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      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) A greeting."
      ],
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          "word": "hey"
        },
        {
          "word": "hi"
        },
        {
          "word": "yo"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US",
        "error-unknown-tag",
        "slang"
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        "English slang"
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      "glosses": [
        "Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "shock",
          "shock#English"
        ],
        [
          "disapproving",
          "disapprove#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US",
        "error-unknown-tag",
        "slang"
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        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
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          ],
          "text": "Ayo, what'd you just say?",
          "type": "example"
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      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner.",
        "Used to imply that what was said is inappropriate, perhaps sexually so."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "shock",
          "shock#English"
        ],
        [
          "disapproving",
          "disapprove#English"
        ],
        [
          "inappropriate",
          "inappropriate#Adjective"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "extensively",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner.",
        "(extensively) Used to imply that what was said is inappropriate, perhaps sexually so."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "hold up"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "US",
        "error-unknown-tag",
        "slang"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈeɪ.(j)oʊ/"
    },
    {
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      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/b/b8/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ayo.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-ayo.wav.mp3",
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      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "ayo"
}

{
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    "English greetings",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Yoruba",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Pages with 18 entries",
    "Pages with entries"
  ],
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    {
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        "2": "yo",
        "3": "ayò"
      },
      "expansion": "Yoruba ayò",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Yoruba ayò, an abridged form of ayò ọlọ́pọ́n.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "ayo (uncountable)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "awari"
    },
    {
      "word": "ayoayo"
    },
    {
      "word": "oware"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "West African English"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A type of mancala strategy game played by the Yoruba."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "mancala",
          "mancala"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(West Africa) A type of mancala strategy game played by the Yoruba."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Africa",
        "West",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈa.jo/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "ayo"
}

Download raw JSONL data for ayo meaning in English (4.9kB)

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  "subsection": "",
  "title": "ayo",
  "trace": "<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html lang=\"en\">\n<meta charset=\"utf-8\">\n<title>Wikimedia Error</title>\n<style>\n* { margin: 0; padding: 0; }\nbody { background: #fff; font: 15px/1.6 sans-serif; color: #333; }\n.content { margin: 7% auto 0; padding: 2em 1em 1em; max-width: 640px; display: flex; flex-direction: row; flex-wrap: wrap; }\n.footer { clear: both; margin-top: 14%; border-top: 1px solid #e5e5e5; background: #f9f9f9; padding: 2em 0; font-size: 0.8em; text-align: center; }\nimg { margin: 0 2em 2em 0; }\na img { border: 0; }\nh1 { margin-top: 1em; font-size: 1.2em; }\n.content-text { flex: 1; }\np { margin: 0.7em 0 1em 0; }\na { color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; }\na:hover { text-decoration: underline; }\ncode { font-family: sans-serif; }\nsummary { font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; }\ndetails[open] { background: #970302; color: #dfdedd; }\n.text-muted { color: #777; }\n@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {\n  a { color: #9e9eff; }\n  body { background: transparent; color: #ddd; }\n  .footer { border-top: 1px solid #444; background: #060606; }\n  #logo { filter: invert(1) hue-rotate(180deg); }\n  .text-muted { color: #888; }\n}\n</style>\n<meta name=\"color-scheme\" content=\"light dark\">\n<div class=\"content\" role=\"main\">\n<a href=\"https://www.wikimedia.org\"><img id=\"logo\" src=\"https://www.wikimedia.org/static/images/wmf-logo.png\" srcset=\"https://www.wikimedia.org/static/images/wmf-logo-2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Wikimedia\" width=\"135\" height=\"101\">\n</a>\n<div class=\"content-text\">\n<h1>Error</h1>\n\n<p>Your bot is making too many requests. Please reduce your request rate or contact bot-traffic@wikimedia.org (f263c81)</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"footer\"><p>If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below.</p><p class=\"text-muted\"><code>Request served via cp3073 cp3073, Varnish XID 467110838<br>Upstream caches: cp3073 int<br>Error: 429, Your bot is making too many requests. Please reduce your request rate or contact bot-traffic@wikimedia.org (f263c81) at Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:13:06 GMT<br><details><summary>Sensitive client information</summary>IP address: 91.207.79.37</details></code></p>\n</div>\n</html>\n"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-09 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (ccec6f1 and 4deed51). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.