# banjo

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbæn.dʒəʊ/ · frequency rank #20,292

## Definitions
1. A stringed musical instrument (chordophone), usually with a round body, a membrane-like soundboard and a fretted neck, played by plucking or strumming the strings.
2. Any of various similar musical instruments, such as the Tuvan doshpuluur, with a membrane-like soundboard.
3. An object shaped like a banjo, especially a frying pan or a shovel.
4. A cul-de-sac with a round end.
5. A miner's round-nosed shovel.
6. An egg sandwich fried on a flattop and served in a bun as would a burger, ellipsis of egg banjo.
7. The frenulum of the penis.

## Etymology
From the pronunciation of African slaves, of unknown ultimate origin. Possibly a corruption of bandore (from Spanish bandurria), alternatively from a West African language such as Mandinka banjul, or Kimbundu mbanza.

## Easily confused with
- **bao** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bao)
- **bank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bank)
- **bans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bans)
- **banks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-banks)
- **bingo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bingo)
- **Benji** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-benji)
- **Bantu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bantu)
- **bongo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bongo)
- **bento** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bento)
- **Bannon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-bannon)
- **blanco** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banjo-vs-blanco)
- **ban** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ban-vs-banjo)
- **band** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/band-vs-banjo)
- **bang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bang-vs-banjo)
- **bane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bane-vs-banjo)
- **Baja** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baja-vs-banjo)
- **banc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banc-vs-banjo)
- **bands** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bands-vs-banjo)
- **bangs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bangs-vs-banjo)
- **banco** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banco-vs-banjo)

## Common misspellings (7)
`abnjo`, `bajno`, `banjjo`, `bannjo`, `banoj`, `bbanjo`, `bnajo`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/banjo