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• Abo
  Abo

  noun

  a contemptuous term used to refer to an Australian Aboriginal person.
• ABO
  ABO

  abbreviation

  ABO system.
• Åbo
  Åbo

  noun

  Swedish name of Turku.

Abo

¹ American  

[Ab-oh] / ˈæb oʊ /

Or abo

noun

Abos plural

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

"Hajj has been the dream of a lifetime for me," Ahmed Abo Seta, 47, told AFP.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

A relative of Sheikh Abo Rayya told the BBC that strike happened at about 17:10 local time, about 15 minutes after the funeral.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2024

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

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

He knew every rock, big and little, visible and invisible, that lay on the entire route between Abo and Stockholm, and could see them all with his eyes shut.

From The Land of Thor by Browne, J. Ross (John Ross)