Noun, Adjective
DefinitionAs a noun, jumbo refers to a large elephant or a very large object or person. As an adjective, it means very large or of great size.
PronunciationsUS: /ˈdʒʌmboʊ/
UK: /ˈdʒʌmbəʊ/
Origin and UsageThe word jumbo originated in the 19th century from the name of an elephant that was exhibited in the London Zoo. The elephant was named Jumbo, which was a variation of the Swahili word jambo, meaning hello. The word jumbo became popular to describe anything that was unusually large or gigantic. Today, the word is commonly used to describe large objects or animals, such as jumbo jets or jumbo shrimp.
SynonymsLarge, gigantic, huge, massive, mammoth, colossal, immense, big, oversized, giant
Related WordsElephant, giant, mambo, whamo
Example Sentences