Abo Definition & Meaning

American

British

Sensitive Note

Usage

Etymology

Examples

Abo 1 American [Ab-oh] / ˈæb oʊ / Or abo

noun

plural

Abos

1. a contemptuous term used to refer to an Australian Aboriginal person.

adjective

1. Aboriginal.

ABO 2 American

abbreviation

Physiology.

1. ABO system.

Åbo 3 American [aw-boo] / ˈɔ bu /

noun

1. Swedish name of Turku.

Abo 1 British / ˈæbəʊ /

noun

1. 1. short for Aborigine

   2. ( as modifier )

      an Abo reserve

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Åbo 2 British / ˈoːbuː /

noun

1. the Swedish name for Turku

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Sensitive Note

Since Abo is simply a shortened form of Aborigine or Aboriginal, one could easily think that it is as neutral and inoffensive a term as Aussie is for an Australian. However, Abo is as highly offensive to Australian Aboriginal people as nigger is to African Americans in the United States.

Usage

This once quite common word is now completely unacceptable

Etymology

Origin of Abo

First recorded in 1905–10; by shortening; -o

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A relative of Sheikh Abo Rayya told the BBC that strike happened at about 17:10 local time, about 15 minutes after the funeral.

From BBC

"I was like 'yes this is my house' and I saw the pictures and here I was shocked", Mr Abo Taha said.

From BBC

Adam and Ola Abo Sheriah say they make around 150 calls a day to check on siblings, cousins and other relatives trapped in Gaza.Credit...

From New York Times

So when her daughter, Julie Abo, became grown, it came as a revelation that her mother had kept her despair hidden behind the stories of Minidoka.

From Seattle Times

"For eight days there has been no food or water," Abo Jameel says.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.