# joey

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈd͡ʒoʊ.i/ · frequency rank #8,053

## Definitions
1. The immature young of a marsupial, notably a junior kangaroo, but also a young wallaby, koala, etc.
2. A young child.
3. Ellipsis of joey word.
4. A parcel smuggled in to an inmate.

## Etymology
Unknown. Older and more general sources state that joey comes from an Australian Aboriginal language (cited as joè), but newer sources that focus on Australian English and Aboriginal languages say the origin is unknown. The Australian National Dictionary includes a sense of “young possum” with citations predating the earliest “young kangaroo” citations.

## Easily confused with
- **joy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-joy)
- **Jon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jon)
- **jog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jog)
- **Joo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-joo)
- **jot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jot)
- **Joh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-joh)
- **jor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jor)
- **john** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-john)
- **July** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-july)
- **join** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-join)
- **joke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-joke)
- **jury** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jury)
- **Josh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-josh)
- **Jose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jose)
- **Judy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-judy)
- **jong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jong)
- **joys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-joys)
- **jojo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jojo)
- **joss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-joss)
- **JPEG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/joey-vs-jpeg)

## Common misspellings (5)
`jeoy`, `jjoey`, `joeyy`, `joye`, `ojey`

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