jaywalker

Questions

How do you pronounce jaywalker?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.wɔkɚ/.

What does jaywalker mean?

A person who violates pedestrian traffic regulations by crossing a street away from a designated crossing or who walks on the part of the street intended for vehicles instead of the part designated for pedestrians.

Where does jaywalker come from?

From jay (“a stupid person”) + walker; jay walker (“a pedestrian who doesn't pay attention to the road, endangering themselves and obstructing horses, carts, and automobiles”). First use appears c. 1917 in Harper's Magazine. Coined in analogy to the older turn-of-the-20th-century term jay driver (“a driver who doesn't pay attention to the road, endangering horses, carts, bicyclists, and pedestrians”). Promoted by driving enthusiasts and automotive concerns to clear the roads of obstructive pedestrians by making it illegal to walk in the middle of roads.

How to pronounce jaywalker

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