What Does “Bad Juju” Mean?

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Learn all about the definition, origins, and usage of this phrase

Co-authored by Annabelle Reyes Reviewed by Michelle Arbeau

Last Updated: March 27, 2025 Fact Checked

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Definition

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Examples

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Origins

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Related Terms

You’ve probably heard someone say that something has “bad juju.” But what exactly does “bad juju” mean, and where did this popular slang term come from? If you’re interested in the answers to these questions, look no further! We’ll go over the definition of bad juju and provide some examples of how to use it in conversation. We’ll also cover the origins of the term and related words and phrases, so keep reading!

What does "bad juju" mean?

The term "bad juju" basically means bad vibes or bad luck. It could be used to describe a creepy old building that might be haunted, or a gift from someone who used to be your friend but became your enemy. The idea is that these objects or places are infused with negative energy, so they might bring you misfortune.

Section 1 of 4:

Bad Juju Definition

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Bad juju means bad vibes or bad luck. It’s a term that people use when they feel like something has a negative vibe or aura.^{[1]
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Research source} For example, you could say that a spooky old house on your street has bad juju because it seems like it might be haunted. Or, you could say that a necklace that was a gift from a terrible ex has bad juju because it still carries some of that ex’s negative energy.
- The term is usually used in a superstitious context, and it’s often associated with a belief in negative supernatural forces that can bring you misfortune.
- Actions that people believe bring bad luck (like walking under a ladder or opening an umbrella inside) can also be described as bringing “bad juju” to your life.
- “Bad juju” is primarily used as a noun (“I don’t like that place—it has bad juju,” or “A black cat ran in front of me today, and now I’m afraid of the bad juju”).

Section 2 of 4:

Examples of How to Use “Bad Juju”

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Use “bad juju” to describe something that has bad energy:
- “I hate going to that restaurant because my boyfriend and I always get into a fight when we’re there. It has some serious bad juju.”
- “My old apartment definitely had bad juju from whoever lived there before. You could really feel the negative energy in there.”
- "That doctor's office has some serious bad juju. I'm always super anxious and uncomfortable the whole time I'm there."
- “My old best friend gave me that bracelet, but we had a major falling out. I don’t wear it anymore because I feel like it carries some bad juju.”
- “He refuses to wear that jersey now because it was the one he was wearing when his favorite team lost the Superbowl. He thinks it has bad juju.”
- “This antique doll belonged to my great-great grandmother, but I’ve always thought it was a little creepy and haunted-looking. It might have some bad juju.”
- "I forgot my pencils, so I had to borrow one from a classmate that I'm super competitive with. I ended up getting a bad grade on the test, so I think the pencil had bad juju."
- "I was wearing that dress when my ex broke up with me, so now I always associate it with that feeling of rejection. I think it has some bad juju."
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Use “bad juju” when you’re experiencing bad luck:
- “We’re remodeling our house, but everything has been going wrong. We found mold, water damage, termites—it must be bad juju or something!”
- “I walked under a ladder this morning, and now I think I’m dealing with some bad juju. I spilled my coffee all over myself, got into a fender bender, and ended up being late to work.”
- “There’s gotta be some bad juju associated with that TV show. Every single actor who was on it ended up being involved in a major scandal or suffering from a big tragedy.”
- "There's definitely bad juju at that company. They've had to fire a bunch of higher ups for misconduct, and now a bunch of their employees are on strike."
- "I accepted a loan from a family member, and now I think the money has bad juju. Everything has been going wrong in my life since then!"
- "I'm trying not to be superstitious, but I think this bracelet has some bad juju. Every time I wear it, I have a terrible day and everything seems to go wrong."

Section 3 of 4:

Origins of the Term “Bad Juju”

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The term “bad juju” has roots in West African spiritual traditions. In this context, “juju” refers to an object infused with magical or spiritual power, like an amulet, charm, or fetish. The practice of juju can be used for positive, healing purposes, but it can also be used for negative deeds. For example, objects infused with negative juju are thought to bring negative spiritual effects to any person who comes in contact with them, which is likely where the colloquial term “bad juju” evolved from.^{[2]
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- The word “juju” can refer to the object, the magical power itself, or the belief system as a whole.^{[3]
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Section 4 of 4:

Related Words and Phrases

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Bad vibes A “vibe” refers to the aura, mood, or energy that something gives off.^{[4]
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Research source} As a result, the term “bad vibe” can be used in a super similar way to “bad juju.” It basically means that something has negative or “off” energy. For example:
- “That house has a bad vibe. It’s really dark and spooky in there.”
- “Her new boyfriend gives off bad vibes. I think he’s a shady character.”
- “There were bad vibes at that party. The energy was really tense and uncomfortable.”
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Jinx “Jinx” essentially means bad luck or negative energy. It can be used as a noun (“I always have a terrible day when I wear this shirt. It must have a jinx on it!”) or as a verb (“I had a bad feeling that we were going to lose the game, and I think my negative energy jinxed us.”)^{[5]
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Research source} Here are a few more examples:
- “I started celebrating before the election was officially over, and I think it jinxed us. We ended up losing at the last minute.”
- “There must be a jinx on that band. All of their members caught the flu at the same time, so they had to cancel their biggest concert ever.”
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Bad karma In Buddhism and Hinduism, “karma” is the idea that your actions in this life determine what will happen to you in your next life. In a more general sense, the term “karma” has evolved to mean that people experience the consequences of their actions.^{[6]
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Research source} In other words, negative actions are thought to bring “bad karma,” just like certain objects are thought to bring “bad juju.”
- “Our team lost, but I blame myself. I think I brought bad karma on us because I was cocky and rude to the other team beforehand.”
- “I was upset when I saw him with his new boyfriend, but I was nice and wished him well. If I was mean to them, it would have brought me bad karma.”