Banjo
The banjo is a stringed instrument with African roots, now central to Southern and Appalachian music. In regional speech and songs, it’s often pronounced "banjer."
synonyms: five-string banjo, clawhammer banjo
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I have a banjo - but I can't do a thing with it. I'm not sure how common they are to own. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I have a banjo - but I can't do a thing with it. I'm not sure how common they are to own. Pronunciation
[BAN-joe] /ˈbæn.dʒoʊ/ (standard)
[BAN-jer] /ˈbæn.dʒɚ/ (Southern/Appalachian)
Meaning & Usage
- A stringed instrument with a round body and long neck (noun)
Elmer:
He’s been playin’ that banjer since he was knee-high.
He’s been playin’ that banjer since he was knee-high.
Estel:
Sounds like home to me.
Sounds like home to me.variations: banjer
★ If you see "banjer" in a folk song lyric or hear it in Appalachia, it’s the same instrument as the banjo - just a regional pronunciation. ★
Origin and Etymology
Derived from African instruments such as the akonting and banza, brought to America by enslaved Africans in the 17th-18th centuries. The banjo became central to Southern and Appalachian folk music in the 19th century. "Banjer" is a regional pronunciation preserved in traditional speech and songs.
Usage Notes
- Common across Appalachia and the rural South, both as an instrument and as "banjer" in dialect.
- "Banjer" spelling reflects pronunciation; the standard spelling remains "banjo."
- Often appears in folk songs, ballads, and oral histories.