I shouldn’t jinx it, but I think this is the best guide on what the word jinx means. See what I did there? Jinx is a word that we commonly use in everyday conversation, but its meaning and origins go way back to witchy times. Should you still use it? I’ll explain everything you should know about using the word jinx.
What Does Jinx Mean?
Jinx is a term that’s both a noun and a verb and describes a situation where a person or thing is thought to bring bad luck or cause an unfortunate event to occur. It was even used as a warning in the past.
As a noun, you would call a person a jinx. Like, they are a jinx for bringing bad luck. It’s also used as a name (so, proper noun) for a popular character in the game League of Legends.
As a verb, jinx would be used more like, “Don’t say that I don’t want to jinx it.”
It’s also a game played in most English-speaking countries where if two or more people speak the same word or phrase simultaneously, one can jinx the other into remaining silent until someone says their name or buys them a Coke. It’s a weird game, I know.
Jinks or Jinx: How Do You Spell Jinx?
J-i-n-x is the right spelling of the word. But I’ve seen some people mistakenly spell it as “jinks,” which isn’t correct.
What’s the Origin of the Word Jinx?
The etymology of jinx is muddled, but the best sources, like Merriam-Webster, state that the word jinx derives from the term jynx wryneck, which comes from witchcraft.
An excerpt from the Technical World Magazine in 1911 says, “Most mysterious of all in the psychics of baseball is the “jinx,” that peculiar “hoodoo” which affects, at times, a man, at other times a whole team. Let a man begin to think that there is a “jinx” about, and he is done for the time being.”
What’s the Plural of Jinx?
The plural of jinx is simply “jinxes,” no strange letter plays here. You will use jinxes if you’re talking about more than one curse or spell.
Synonyms for Jinx
As a Fantasy author, I’ve got tons of other words or terms you can use in place of jinx.
- Curse
- Hex
- Spell
- Voodoo
- Incantation
- Charm
- Hoodoo
- Evil eye
- Black magic
- Bad luck
Sentence Examples Using Jinx
- Don’t say that! You’ll jinx us!
- I’m not being ridiculous; I think I have a jinx on me. Everything seems to be going wrong.
- I definitely don’t want to go to that Italian restaurant. It’s been a jinx for me in the past.
- That witch who lives in the house at the top of the street put an evil jinx on us on Halloween.
- No, you cannot have an Ouija board; it might jinx everyone in the house.
Don’t Jinx Yourself!
And that’s a wrap! So, just remember that jinx might derive from witchy origins. But today, we just use it as a silly way of saying curse or bad luck. It’s always spelled with an X at the end, and the plural is jinxes. Have fun using this word in your writing!
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