English word origin

Etymology of banjo

From the pronunciation of African slaves, of unknown ultimate origin. Possibly a corruption of bandore (from Spanish bandurria), alternatively from a West African language such as Mandinka banjul, or Kimbundu mbanza.

2 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Unnumbered source etymology · variant 1/2

Original entry ↗

verb

To play a banjo. · To beat, to knock down. · To shell or attack (a target).

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Derivation mentionbandurriaes
Derivation mentionbanjulmnk
Derivation mentionmbanzakmb

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "es",
        "3": "bandurria"
      },
      "expansion": "Spanish bandurria"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "mnk",
        "3": "banjul"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandinka banjul"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "kmb",
        "3": "mbanza"
      },
      "expansion": "Kimbundu mbanza"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "bandore",
      "bandore#English"
    ],
    [
      "bandurria",
      "bandurria#Spanish"
    ],
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    ],
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      "mbanza#Kimbundu"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To play a banjo.",
        "To beat, to knock down.",
        "To shell or attack (a target)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "UK",
        "slang",
        "transitive"
      ],
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}

Unnumbered source etymology · variant 2/2

Original entry ↗

noun

A stringed musical instrument (chordophone), usually with a round body, a membrane-like soundboard and a fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings. · Any of various similar musical instruments, such as the Tuvan doshpuluur, with a membrane-like soundboard. · An object shaped like a banjo, especially a frying pan or a shovel. · A cul-de-sac with a round end.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Derivation mentionbandurriaes
Derivation mentionbanjulmnk
Derivation mentionmbanzakmb

This page abbreviates 3 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "es",
        "3": "bandurria"
      },
      "expansion": "Spanish bandurria"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "mnk",
        "3": "banjul"
      },
      "expansion": "Mandinka banjul"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "kmb",
        "3": "mbanza"
      },
      "expansion": "Kimbundu mbanza"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "bandore",
      "bandore#English"
    ],
    [
      "bandurria",
      "bandurria#Spanish"
    ],
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      "banjul#Mandinka"
    ],
    [
      "mbanza",
      "mbanza#Kimbundu"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "benjo"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "lang_code": "eo",
      "word": "banĝo",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Irish",
      "lang_code": "ga",
      "word": "bainseo",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "lang_code": "ja",
      "word": "バンジョー",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "lang_code": "mk",
      "word": "бенџо",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "bendžo"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Mongolian",
      "lang_code": "mn",
      "word": "банжо",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "banžo"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "word": "банджо",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "bandžo"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Thai",
      "lang_code": "th",
      "word": "แบนโจ",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "bɛɛn-joo"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "lang_code": "cy",
      "word": "banjô",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Yiddish",
      "lang_code": "yi",
      "word": "באַנדזשאָ",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "bandzho"
    }
  ],
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        "A stringed musical instrument (chordophone), usually with a round body, a membrane-like soundboard and a fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings.",
        "Any of various similar musical instruments, such as the Tuvan doshpuluur, with a membrane-like soundboard.",
        "An object shaped like a banjo, especially a frying pan or a shovel.",
        "A cul-de-sac with a round end."
      ],
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    "lexicalSenses": 3,
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  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for banjo →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-YmFuam8