rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryjujuMagical influence
noun

juju

JOO-joo/ˈdʒuːdʒuː/

A magical force believed to affect people or events.

The player credits the charm's juju for the favorable roll of the dice.

A dice player kisses a personal lucky charm while watching a favorable roll, depicting juju as luck or attributed magical power without claiming to represent a West African tradition.
Etymology
jujuFrenchtoy, plaything

The suggested link to French joujou, “toy, plaything,” is uncertain. The recorded use for an object of religious veneration connects the word with the spiritual power attributed to such objects.

In context

San Francisco Public Library105:09
ask me to make Juju so they could become invisible
Author: Kim McMillon: Black Fire This Time in San Francisco, Part 2

More examples

  • He believes the old coin brings good juju.
  • They blame bad juju for the team's losing streak.
  • We need a little juju to turn our luck around.

Forms

juju

Similar words

magic
Magic is broader, including spells, rituals, and supernatural powers.
luck
Luck concerns chance outcomes without necessarily implying a magical force.