Abo

¹ American  

[Ab-oh] / ˈæb oʊ /

Or abo

noun

plural

Abos

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

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adjective

1. Aboriginal.

ABO ² American  

abbreviation

Physiology.

1. ABO system.

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Åbo ³ American  

[aw-boo] / ˈɔ bu /

noun

1. Swedish name of Turku.

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Abo ¹ British  

/ ˈæbəʊ /

noun

1. 1. short for Aborigine

   2. ( as modifier )

      an Abo reserve

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Åbo ² British  

/ ˈoːbuː /

noun

1. the Swedish name for Turku

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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; see -o

Example Sentences

Ashraf Abo Taha said he was "shocked" as he identified the partially destroyed building in Israeli drone footage of the incident as his home on Ibn Sena street in Rafah, southern Gaza.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2024

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 • Apr. 24, 2024

The call came in around 4 p.m., while Adam Abo Sheriah was still at work in his pharmacy in New Jersey.

From New York Times • Apr. 24, 2024

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 • Nov. 9, 2023

In the evening I arrived at the town of Abo, which is as large as Orebro, and well built.

From Lachesis Lapponica A Tour in Lapland by Linn?, Carl von