jitterbug

/ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/

//ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"jitterbug" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“jitterbug” is uncommon English (frequency #87,424 among 4,872 “J” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#87,424
frequency rank, English
4,872
“J” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A nervous or jittery person.

Key facts for jitterbug
PropertyValue
Headwordjitterbug
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/
Letters9
Frequency rank#87,424
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “jitterbug” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). jitterbug lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

jitterbug is uncommon English at frequency #87,424 among 4,872 “J” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for jitterbug, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From jitter + bug, after the 1934 Cab Calloway song “Jitter Bug”. The correct English form is jitterbug, spelled J-I-T-T-E-R-B-U-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    A nervous or jittery person.
  2. 2
    A jazz musician or aficionado.
  3. 3
    An uptempo jazz or swing dance which embellishes on the two-step pattern and frequently incorporates acrobatic style swing steps.
  4. 4
    Synonym of diddley bow (“type of stringed instrument”).

Etymology

From jitter + bug, after the 1934 Cab Calloway song “Jitter Bug”.

Synonyms

jazzbojazzmanjazzpersonbundle of nervesnervous wreckworrywartworrier

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "jitterbug"?
"jitterbug" is spelled J-I-T-T-E-R-B-U-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/.
What does "jitterbug" mean?
As a noun, "jitterbug" means: A nervous or jittery person.
How do you pronounce "jitterbug"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "jitterbug" is /ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "jitterbug"?
From jitter + bug, after the 1934 Cab Calloway song “Jitter Bug”. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “jitterbug”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is J-I-T-T-E-R-B-U-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈd͡ʒɪtə(ɹ)bʌɡ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list