mo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “mo” mean?
A very short period of time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very short period of time; a moment.
Primarily an informal abbreviation of 'moment' in phrases like 'wait a mo', also used in Australian/British slang as an abbreviation for 'homosexual' (derogatory, from 'moffie').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British/Commonwealth English, 'mo' is a common informal shortening of 'moment'. In American English, 'mo' in this sense is less frequent and can sound consciously British or old-fashioned. The derogatory Australian slang sense is largely absent in US usage.
Connotations
UK: Casual, friendly, slightly dated. AU (slang): Highly offensive.
Frequency
Much more frequent in UK/Australian/NZ informal speech than in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “mo” in a Sentence
wait + a + mofor + a + moin + a + moVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in very informal internal communication (e.g., 'Email you back in a mo').
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Informal spoken requests for brief waiting periods.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mo”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Capitalising it as 'MO'.
- Using it without the article 'a' (e.g., 'wait mo' is incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's an established informal clipping of 'moment', recorded in dictionaries as a colloquialism.
Only in very informal writing, such as texts, chats, or casual notes. Avoid it in any professional or academic context.
It is almost never used in the plural. You would say 'a few moments' or 'a couple of secs', not 'a few mos'.
No, they are homographs (same spelling, different words). The Australian slang term is a shortening of 'moffie', itself from Afrikaans, and is unrelated etymologically.
A very short period of time.
Mo is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Mo: in British English it is pronounced /məʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /moʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in a mo”
- “half a mo”
- “wait a mo”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MO' as the first two letters of 'MOMENT' but with the 'MENT' cut off because you're in a hurry.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT (caught for a 'mo'), or TIME IS A MEASURABLE QUANTITY (a 'mo' of it).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'mo' most appropriately used?