# jive

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈd͡ʒaɪv/ · frequency rank #26,135

## Definitions
1. To deceive; to be deceptive.
2. To dance, originally to jive or swing music; later, to jazz, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, disco, etc.

## Etymology
Unknown. Slang attested in African-American and rural American culture. Frequently used to imply lying, verbal deception or trickery. Has a possible historical antecedent in gyve (“shackle”). Alternatively, of African origin, compare Wolof jev, jeu (“to talk about someone absent, especially in a disparaging manner”).

## Easily confused with
- **JV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-jv)
- **Joe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-joe)
- **June** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-june)
- **joke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-joke)
- **Jose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-jose)
- **Jude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-jude)
- **juve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-juve)
- **juke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-juke)
- **jute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-jute)
- **jizz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-jizz)
- **Jove** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-jove)
- **juice** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jive-vs-juice)
- **JI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ji-vs-jive)
- **Jim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jim-vs-jive)
- **jin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jin-vs-jive)
- **jig** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jig-vs-jive)
- **Jia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jia-vs-jive)
- **jiu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jiu-vs-jive)
- **jib** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jib-vs-jive)
- **Jie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/jie-vs-jive)

## Common misspellings (5)
`ijve`, `jiev`, `jivve`, `jjive`, `jvie`

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