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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

ayo en · INTJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /ˈeɪ.(j)oʊ/

Etymology

Combination of hey and yo.

Meanings

  1. (US, error-unknown-tag, slang) A greeting.
    • "Ayo, Kalil!" a man's voice said from amidst the crowd. Kalil looked up and saw his lil' man, Peanut, distributing packets of heroin and taking money from the fiends. 2008, Ashley JaQuavis, The Trophy Wife, page 103:
    • "Ayo, ma, where you going?" a dude asked her as she walked by him. 2008, Treasure Hernandez, Resurrection, page 106:
    • “Ayo, wassup, girl,” he said to Keisha as he continued to walk toward the back area where I stood. […] “Ayo, wassup, playa? 2007, Reginald L. Hall, In Love with a Thug, page 38:
    • "Ayo, fam, you a'ight down there?" Victorious's cell mate asked. 2007, Nikki Turner, Christmas in the Hood, page 289:
    • "Ayo, Red. It's the homie Spits on the jack for you, blood." "Ayo, homeboy," said Red as he excitedly picked up the telephone receiver. "What's up, fool?" 2004, Michael Daniel Baptiste, Cracked Dreams, page 73:
    • "Ayo, Cee, listen to this shit here," said Matt, passing him his cell. 2010, R Green Damon, Somethin' to Think about, page 197:
    • Ayo Toine, you think they'd put me down? 2007, Tony J. Ward, Jr., I've Got to Make It to Heaven for Going Through Hell: Part 1, page 39:
  2. (US, error-unknown-tag, slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner.
  3. (US, error-unknown-tag, qualifier:extensively, slang) Used to indicate shock towards sth esp. of a disapproving manner. ▸ Used to imply that what was said is inappropriate, perhaps sexually so.
    • Ayo, what'd you just say?

Deriveds

ayo chill

Synonyms

yo · hi · hey · hold up

Source: en.wiktionary, “ayo” (intj), dump 20260902, contributors via the page history. Text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ayo en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈa.jo/

Etymology

From Yoruba ayò, an abridged form of ayò ọlọ́pọ́n.

Meanings

  1. (Africa, West, uncountable) A type of mancala strategy game played by the Yoruba.

Relateds

awari · oware · ayoayo