Etymology

banjo

B3A1N1J8O1

Today it means: 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. Full definition →

Spanish bandurria ← Mandinka banjul ← Kimbundu mbanza
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The story

  1. Kimbundu · derived frommbanza
  2. Mandinka · derived frombanjul
  3. Spanish · derived frombandurria
  4. English todaybanjo

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.

Words from the same roots

Spanishbandurria all →

bandorebandurria

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.