Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

john

/ˈd͡ʒɑn/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.38 in modern English

Syllables
john
IPA
/ˈd͡ʒɑn/
14
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A prostitute's client.

American usage; Slang

noun

A device or place for urination and defecation: now usually a toilet or lavatory, but also (dated) a chamber pot or outhouse.

American usage; Slang

noun

A Western man traveling in East Asia.

Slang

noun

A male mule.

name

A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages.

Informal

name

A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages.

Informal

name

Persons of the Christian Bible: John the Baptist; and names possibly referring to one, two or three persons, frequently called "Saint": John the Apostle, John the Evangelist and John of Patmos (also called John the Divine or John the Theologian).

Example Sentences

Etymology

From the male given name John (q.v.), whose ubiquity led to extensive use of the name in generic contexts. Its use for toilets derives from John and Cousin John, which both probably relate to jacques and jakes, used in equivalent senses by the British and Irish.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: John, Jehan, Iohannes, Iōhannēs, Iōannēs, Ἰωάννης

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈd͡ʒɑn/
  • British English: /ˈd͡ʒɒn/

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in People.

Inflected Forms

johns (plural) Jon (alternative) Joh. (alternative, abbreviation)

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce john?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒɑn/.
What does john mean?
A prostitute's client.
Where does john come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce john

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “john”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈd͡ʒɑn/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “john”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “john” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.