This list includes 51 Slang words that start with J, from “jab” to “junta (slangy use)”. These entries are mostly informal, often regional, and useful for writers, learners, and content creators.
Slang words that start with J are informal vocabulary items used in casual speech, online posts, and creative writing. Many reflect local identity or pop culture, with some terms dating back decades and others born on social media.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Meaning, Region, Register, Example, and Notes.
Word: The slang term itself, shown in quotes when helpful, so you can identify entries quickly.
Meaning: Clear short definition, so you understand typical usage and the core sense of the term.
Region: Indicates where the term is common, helping you judge its geographic or cultural relevance today.
Register: Labels formality or tone (informal, pejorative, playful), so you use the term appropriately in context.
Example: A one-line sentence showing typical use, so you see real-world placement, tone, and register quickly.
Notes: Short remarks about origin, variants, or usage alerts, useful when you want extra context or citation hints.
Slang words that start with J
| Slang | Meaning | Region | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| jawn | Thing; unspecified person or object | US (Philly) | informal, regional |
| jab | Injection; vaccine shot | UK, Global | informal, medical colloquial |
| jack | To steal; nothing | US | informal, pejorative |
| jack squat | Nothing at all | US | informal, dismissive |
| jack up | Raise or damage; increase suddenly | US | informal, critical |
| jacked | Very muscular; stolen; excited | US | informal, slangy |
| jag | A binge or spree | US, UK | informal, dated |
| janky | Low quality; unreliable | US | informal, internet |
| jam | Difficult situation; favorite song | Global | informal |
| jammy | Very lucky | UK | informal, colloquial |
| jeez | Exclamation of surprise or annoyance | Global | informal, mild |
| jerk | Unpleasant or rude person | US, UK | informal, pejorative |
| jibe | Agree or be consistent with | UK, US | informal |
| jive | Deceptive talk or rhythmically cool | US | informal, dated |
| jive turkey | Insincere or worthless person | US | pejorative, dated |
| jig | Dance; trick; situation concluded | US, UK | informal |
| jiggy | Sexy, stylish, or rhythmically into music | US | informal, youth |
| jizz | Semen (vulgar slang) | US, UK | vulgar, sexual |
| john | Customer of a sex worker; toilet (US) | US, UK | informal, coarse |
| johnny | Condom (chiefly British) | UK | informal, slangy |
| joint | Marijuana cigarette; place | Global | informal |
| jonesing | Craving intensely | US | informal, slang |
| jones | Craving or addiction | US | informal, slang |
| juice | Power, influence, or reputation | US | informal, slang |
| juiced | Under influence or enhanced | US | informal, slang |
| juju | Mystical power or charm | Global | informal |
| jump | To attack or ambush someone | US | informal, violent |
| jump the shark | Pass peak; start decline | US, UK | informal, cultural |
| junk | Worthless stuff; heroin | US, US | informal, pejorative |
| junkie | Addicted person | US, Global | informal, pejorative |
| jug | Jail (informal British/Irish) | UK, IE | informal, dated |
| juke | To fake out an opponent | US | informal, sports |
| juke joint | Informal music venue, often blues | US (South) | informal, historical |
| jock | Athlete; sports‑obsessed person | US, UK | informal |
| jimmy | To force open with a tool | US, UK | informal, verb |
| jollies | Pleasure or thrills (get one’s jollies) | US, UK | informal, sometimes sexual |
| josh | Tease in good humor | US, UK | informal, playful |
| joss | Lucky charm or idol (regional) | UK, US | informal, rare |
| jowls | Chin cheeks, used informally | US, UK | informal |
| junta (slangy use) | Powerful ruling group, often military | Global | informal, political |
| jumper (UK) | Sweater; also someone who jumps | UK | informal |
| jumped | Attacked or beaten | US | informal, violent |
| juke (music) | Danceable rhythm or song | US | informal, musical |
| jazzed | Excited or enthused | US | informal |
| jazzy | Flashy or stylish | US | informal |
| jiggered | Tired or broken (dated) | UK, AUS | informal, dated |
| jink | Sudden evasive movement (British) | UK | informal, nautical |
| jive‑talk | Smooth or deceptive talk | US | informal, dated |
| jelly | Envious; jealous (informal) | US, internet | informal, playful |
| johnny‑on‑the‑spot | Quick, ready person | US, UK | informal, idiomatic |
| jungly | Lush, disorganized or wild (slang) | UK, US | informal, regional |
Descriptions
jawn
Philly word for any person or thing. “Pass me that jawn.” (Philadelphia usage)
jab
Common British informal term for a vaccine or injection. “I got my jab yesterday.” (COVID‑19 era usage)
jack
Can mean to steal or mean “nothing” in phrases. “Someone jack’d my bike.” / “You don’t know jack.” (informal usage)
jack squat
Colloquial phrase meaning absolutely nothing. “He knows jack squat about cars.” (informal speech)
jack up
To sharply raise or to ruin. “They jack up the prices every summer.” (informal commerce)
jacked
Slang for ripped, stolen, or amped up. “He’s jacked after those workouts.” (gym slang)
jag
A period of excessive behavior, like drinking or spending. “He went on a drinking jag.” (mid‑20th c. usage)
janky
Internet and youth slang for something poorly made. “That old laptop is janky.” (online usage)
jam
Means a tight spot or a great song. “I’m in a jam.” / “That’s my jam.” (casual speech)
jammy
British slang for being unusually lucky. “You found a seat? You’re jammy.” (UK usage)
jeez
Colloquial interjection expressing shock or exasperation. “Jeez, calm down!” (spoken usage)
jerk
Common insult for someone rude or selfish. “Don’t be such a jerk.” (everyday slang)
jibe
To match or be in accord; British/US colloquial. “That story doesn’t jibe with hers.” (colloquial)
jive
Can mean deceitful talk or a lively style of music/dance. “Cut the jive.” (African American Vernacular English)
jive turkey
1970s US slang for someone phony or obnoxious. “Ignore that jive turkey.” (1970s usage)
jig
Can mean a lively dance, a trick, or “the jig is up.” “The jig is up.” (idiomatic)
jiggy
Popularized in the 1990s to mean stylish or aroused. “Gettin’ jiggy tonight.” (Will Smith song era)
jizz
Crude slang for semen. Use in explicit contexts only. “He left a jizz stain.” (colloquial vulgarity)
john
Slang for a prostitute’s client or informal term for toilet (US: “john”). “The john paid in cash.” (criminal slang)
johnny
British informal term for a condom. “Make sure you’ve got a johnny.” (colloquial)
joint
Slang for a rolled cannabis cigarette or an establishment. “Let’s smoke a joint.” / “That joint’s noisy.” (drug/pop culture)
jonesing
To intensely crave something, often drugs or comfort. “I’m jonesing for coffee.” (mid‑20th c onward)
jones
Noun form meaning a habit or craving. “He’s got a jones for sweets.” (drug culture origin)
juice
Slang for influence or credibility. “He has all the juice at work.” (sports/rap usage)
juiced
Can mean excited, drugged, or steroid‑enhanced muscular. “He was juiced before the game.” (sports slang)
juju
Borrowed term meaning magic, charm, or luck. “He brought his juju to the meeting.” (African origin, colloquial)
jump
Slang for assaulting someone in a group attack. “They jumped him behind the bar.” (street slang)
jump the shark
Phrase meaning a show or trend has passed its prime. “The series jumped the shark in season six.” (pop culture)
junk
Can mean trash, worthless items, or heroin. “He’s hooked on junk.” / “Clean out your junk.” (slang)
junkie
Slang for someone addicted to drugs or obsessively into something. “He’s a coffee junkie.” (drug slang)
jug
Colloquial term for prison or jail. “He ended up in the jug overnight.” (British slang)
juke
Slang for a quick deceptive move in sports. “She juked the defender.” (sports jargon)
juke joint
Southern US term for informal clubs featuring blues and dance. “We went to a juke joint.” (early 20th c origins)
jock
Slang for a physically athletic person or stereotype. “He’s a total jock.” (school slang)
jimmy
To open or pry something with a tool, e.g., “jimmy the lock.” (criminal slang)
jollies
Slang for deriving pleasure, often sexual or mischievous. “He gets his jollies from teasing.” (colloquial)
josh
To tease or kid someone lightly. “I’m just joshing you.” (colloquial)
joss
Borrowed term sometimes used for a talisman or charm. “He treats that jersey like a joss.” (colloquial borrowing)
jowls
Often used descriptively but informally in slangy contexts. “That dog has big jowls.” (casual speech)
junta (slangy use)
Used colloquially to describe a group exerting control. “The company is run by a junta.” (metaphoric slang)
jumper (UK)
British informal for sweater; also used colloquially otherwise. “She wore a wool jumper.” (British English)
jumped
Past tense implying being attacked by multiple people. “He got jumped last night.” (street slang)
juke (music)
Used to describe a catchy, danceable track. “That track’s a real juke.” (music slang)
jazzed
Colloquial term meaning excited or energized. “I’m jazzed for the concert.” (mid‑20th c usage)
jazzy
Means showy, stylish, or lively in a positive way. “Nice jazzy shoes.” (colloquial)
jiggered
Older slang meaning beat or in bad shape. “I’m jiggered after the hike.” (dated usage)
jink
Used for a quick dodge or change in direction. “The ship jinked to avoid debris.” (nautical slang)
jive‑talk
Refers to slick, insincere talk often in 20th‑century US slang. “He was full of jive‑talk.” (mid‑20th c)
jelly
Slangy short form of “jealous.” “I’m so jelly of your trip.” (internet youth slang)
johnny‑on‑the‑spot
Colloquial phrase for someone ready and available. “She’s a johnny‑on‑the‑spot.” (idiomatic)
jungly
Slang describing something overgrown or chaotic. “The garden looks jungly.” (regional colloquial)