juju

Where does the word "juju" come from? It comes from French joujou, and was adopted directly into English (1860).

Juju’s story begins in French: joujou meant “a toy, a plaything.” A reduplicated baby-talk form of jouer (to play), meaning a toy or plaything. It reached English by 1860 as juju. Adopted in the context of West Africa for an object of religious veneration or magical power; etymonline notes the French connection is only 'supposedly' the source, as the word's ultimate origin is uncertain. Today, juju means an object believed to have magical or supernatural power.

1. Stage 1 · French · 1600s-1700s joujou "a toy, a plaything", a reduplicated baby-talk form of jouer (to play), meaning a toy or plaything.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1860 juju "an object believed to have magical or supernatural power", adopted in the context of West Africa for an object of religious veneration or magical power; etymonline notes the French connection is only 'supposedly' the source, as the word's ultimate origin is uncertain.