jota

See also: Jota and jota-

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish jota.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈhoʊtə/
  • (MLE) IPA^(key): /ˈhoʔə/, /-ɑ/
• Rhymes: -oʊtə

Noun

jota (plural jotas)

1. A traditional popular dance of the Iberian peninsula with regional variations.
2. The music to which this dance is set, normally of 3/4 or 6/8 time.

Translations

Iberian dance style

• Catalan: jota (ca) f
• Esperanto: ĥoto
• Malay: jota
• Spanish: jota (es) f

Iberian music style

• Catalan: jota (ca) f
• Esperanto: ĥoto
• Malay: jota
• Portuguese: jota (pt) f
• Spanish: jota (es) f

Anagrams

• JATO, jato

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Southern) /xota/, [xo̞.t̪a]
• IPA^(key): (Northern) /jota/, [jo̞.t̪a]
  • (Biscayan) IPA^(key): [d͡ʒo.ta]
  • (Gipuzkoan) IPA^(key): [xo.ta]
  • (Upper Navarre) IPA^(key): [jo.ta]
  • (Navarro-Lapurdian) IPA^(key): [ɟo.ta]
  • (Soule) IPA^(key): [ʒo.ta]

Noun

jota inan

1. The name of the Latin script letter J/j.

Declension

Declension of jota (inan a-stem)

	indefinite	singular	plural	proximal plural
absolutive	jota	jota	jotak	jotok
ergative	jotak	jotak	jotek	jotok
dative	jotari	jotari	jotei	jotoi
genitive	jotaren	jotaren	joten	joton
comitative	jotarekin	jotarekin	jotekin	jotokin
causative	jotarengatik	jotarengatik	jotengatik	jotongatik
benefactive	jotarentzat	jotarentzat	jotentzat	jotontzat
instrumental	jotaz	jotaz	jotez	jototaz
inessive	jotatan	jotan	jotetan	jototan
locative	jotatako	jotako	jotetako	jototako
allative	jotatara	jotara	jotetara	jototara
terminative	jotataraino	jotaraino	jotetaraino	jototaraino
directive	jotatarantz	jotarantz	jotetarantz	jototarantz
destinative	jotatarako	jotarako	jotetarako	jototarako
ablative	jotatatik	jotatik	jotetatik	jototatik
partitive	jotarik	—	—	—
prolative	jotatzat	—	—	—

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) a, be, ze, de, e, efe, ge, hatxe, i, jota, ka, ele, eme, ene, eñe, o, pe, ku, erre, ese, te, u, uve, uve bikoitz, ixa, i greko, zeta

Catalan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Northern) [ˈʒo̞.tə]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic, Central) [ˈʒɔ.tə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˈd͡ʒo.ta]
• IPA^(key): (Northwestern) [ˈʒo.ta]

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin iota. Doublet of iota.

Noun

jota f (plural jotes)

1. The name of the Latin script letter J/j.

Etymology 2

Uncertain. Perhaps from Arabic شَطْحَة (šaṭḥa).

Noun

jota f (plural jotes)

1. jota (Iberian folk dance)
2. jota (music to which a jota is danced)

Hyponyms

• mateixa

References

• “jota”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026

Further reading

• “jota”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “jota”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026
• “jota” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• Alcover, Antoni Maria; Moll, Francesc de Borja (1963), “jota”, in Diccionari català-valencià-balear (in Catalan)

Czech

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta, “iota”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈjota]

Noun

jota f

1. iota (Greek letter)

Declension

Declension of jota (hard feminine)

	singular	plural
nominative	jota	joty
genitive	joty	jot
dative	jotě	jotám
accusative	jotu	joty
vocative	joto	joty
locative	jotě	jotách
instrumental	jotou	jotami

Further reading

• “jota”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “jota”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

Dutch

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta). Doublet of jod. The sense "small amount" developed in reference to a phrase in the New Testament: Eer de hemel en aarde vergaat, zal er niet één jota of één tittel vergaan van de wet.— until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law (Mt 5:18), iota being the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjoː.taː/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

jota f (plural jota's, diminutive jotaatje n)

1. iota (Greek letter)
2. (negative polarity item) iota (small amount)

   Ik snap er geen jota van.

   I don’t understand a thing of it.

Synonyms

• (small amount): snars, (vulgar) bal, reet, hol

Finnish

Etymology 1

See ioota.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjoːtɑ/, [ˈjo̞ːt̪ɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -oːtɑ
• Syllabification^(key): jo‧ta
• Hyphenation^(key): jo‧ta

Noun

jota

1. iota (ninth letter in Greek alphabet)

Usage notes

The recommended Finnish spelling for the name of this letter is ioota.

Declension

Inflection of jota (Kotus type 10/koira, no gradation)
nominative		jota	jotat
genitive		jotan	jotien
partitive		jotaa	jotia
illative		jotaan	jotiin
		singular	plural
nominative		jota	jotat
accusative	nom.	jota	jotat
	gen.	jotan
genitive		jotan	jotien jotain rare
partitive		jotaa	jotia
inessive		jotassa	jotissa
elative		jotasta	jotista
illative		jotaan	jotiin
adessive		jotalla	jotilla
ablative		jotalta	jotilta
allative		jotalle	jotille
essive		jotana	jotina
translative		jotaksi	jotiksi
abessive		jotatta	jotitta
instructive		—	jotin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of jota (Kotus type 10/koira, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative jotani jotani accusative nom. jotani jotani gen. jotani genitive jotani jotieni jotaini rare partitive jotaani jotiani inessive jotassani jotissani elative jotastani jotistani illative jotaani jotiini adessive jotallani jotillani ablative jotaltani jotiltani allative jotalleni jotilleni essive jotanani jotinani translative jotakseni jotikseni abessive jotattani jotittani instructive — — comitative — jotineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative jotasi jotasi accusative nom. jotasi jotasi gen. jotasi genitive jotasi jotiesi jotaisi rare partitive jotaasi jotiasi inessive jotassasi jotissasi elative jotastasi jotistasi illative jotaasi jotiisi adessive jotallasi jotillasi ablative jotaltasi jotiltasi allative jotallesi jotillesi essive jotanasi jotinasi translative jotaksesi jotiksesi abessive jotattasi jotittasi instructive — — comitative — jotinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative jotamme jotamme accusative nom. jotamme jotamme gen. jotamme genitive jotamme jotiemme jotaimme rare partitive jotaamme jotiamme inessive jotassamme jotissamme elative jotastamme jotistamme illative jotaamme jotiimme adessive jotallamme jotillamme ablative jotaltamme jotiltamme allative jotallemme jotillemme essive jotanamme jotinamme translative jotaksemme jotiksemme abessive jotattamme jotittamme instructive — — comitative — jotinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative jotanne jotanne accusative nom. jotanne jotanne gen. jotanne genitive jotanne jotienne jotainne rare partitive jotaanne jotianne inessive jotassanne jotissanne elative jotastanne jotistanne illative jotaanne jotiinne adessive jotallanne jotillanne ablative jotaltanne jotiltanne allative jotallenne jotillenne essive jotananne jotinanne translative jotaksenne jotiksenne abessive jotattanne jotittanne instructive — — comitative — jotinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative jotansa jotansa accusative nom. jotansa jotansa gen. jotansa genitive jotansa jotiensa jotainsa rare partitive jotaansa jotiaan jotiansa inessive jotassaan jotassansa jotissaan jotissansa elative jotastaan jotastansa jotistaan jotistansa illative jotaansa jotiinsa adessive jotallaan jotallansa jotillaan jotillansa ablative jotaltaan jotaltansa jotiltaan jotiltansa allative jotalleen jotallensa jotilleen jotillensa essive jotanaan jotanansa jotinaan jotinansa translative jotakseen jotaksensa jotikseen jotiksensa abessive jotattaan jotattansa jotittaan jotittansa instructive — — comitative — jotineen jotinensa

Alternative forms

• ioota

Further reading

• “jota”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎^[1] (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 1 July 2023

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjotɑ/, [ˈjo̞t̪ɑ̝]
• Rhymes: -otɑ
• Syllabification^(key): jo‧ta
• Hyphenation^(key): jo‧ta

Pronoun

jota

1. partitive singular of joka; who, whom, which, that

   Nainen, jota en näe,...

   The woman (who/that) I don't see...

   Nainen, jota varten ostin kukkia,...

   The woman for whom I bought flowers... / The woman (that/who) I bought flowers for...

Anagrams

• ajot, jaot, ojat

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish jota.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /xɔ.ta/, /ʁɔ.ta/

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

Noun

jota m (plural jotas)

1. jota (dance)

Further reading

• “jota”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012

Gothic

Romanization

jōta

1. romanization of 𐌾𐍉𐍄𐌰

Italian

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin iota, from Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta, “iota”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjɔ.ta/
• Rhymes: -ɔta
• Hyphenation: jò‧ta

Noun

jota m or f (invariable)

1. (obsolete) alternative spelling of iota

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Spanish jota, from Mozarabic *šáwta (“jump”), from Latin saltō (“to dance”). Doublet of salta.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxɔ.ta/
• Rhymes: -ɔta

Noun

jota f (plural jote)

1. jota (Iberian folk dance)
2. jota (music to which a jota is danced)

Anagrams

• jato

Occitan

Noun

jota f (plural jotas)

1. beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

   Synonym: bledaraba

References

• Gui Benoèt (2008), Las plantas, Toulouse: IEO Edicions, →ISBN, page 309

Polish

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta), from Phoenician 𐤉 (y‬ /⁠yōd⁠/).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjɔ.ta/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔta
• Syllabification: jo‧ta

Noun

jota f (diminutive jotka, related adjective jotowy)

1. iota (Greek letter Ι, ι)

Declension

Declension of jota

	singular	plural
nominative	jota	joty
genitive	joty	jot
dative	jocie	jotom
accusative	jotę	joty
instrumental	jotą	jotami
locative	jocie	jotach
vocative	joto	joty

Derived terms

adverbs

• ani na jotę
• co do joty
• jota w jotę

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Spanish jota, from older xota, from Mozarabic *šáwta, from Latin saltō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxɔ.ta/
• Rhymes: -ɔta
• Syllabification: jo‧ta

Noun

jota f

1. jota (Iberian folk dance)

Declension

Declension of jota

	singular	plural
nominative	jota	joty
genitive	joty	jot
dative	jocie	jotom
accusative	jotę	joty
instrumental	jotą	jotami
locative	jocie	jotach
vocative	joto	joty

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Slovene jóta.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjɔ.ta/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔta
• Syllabification: jo‧ta

Noun

jota f

1. jota, Istrian stew (soup made with beans and sauerkraut)

Declension

Declension of jota

	singular	plural
nominative	jota	joty
genitive	joty	jot
dative	jocie	jotom
accusative	jotę	joty
instrumental	jotą	jotami
locative	jocie	jotach
vocative	joto	joty

Further reading

• “jota”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[2] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “jota”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[3] (in Polish)

Portuguese

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʒɔ.tɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʒɔ.tɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʒɔ.ta/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʒɔ.tɐ/

• Rhymes: -ɔtɐ
• Homophone: Jota
• Hyphenation: jo‧ta

Etymology 1

From Latin iota, from Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta, “iota”), from Semitic. Doublet of iota.

Noun

jota m (plural jotas)

1. The name of the Latin script letter J/j.

   Synonym: (Northeast Brazil) ji

Noun

jota f (plural jotas)

1. (Portugal, politics, informal) a party youth

Noun

jota m or f by sense (plural jotas)

1. (Portugal, politics, informal) member of a party youth

Derived terms

• jotinha

See also

• (Latin-script letter names) letra; á, bê, cê, dê, é, efe, gê / guê, agá, i, jota, cá / capa, ele, eme, ene, ó, pê, quê, erre, esse, tê, u, vê, dáblio, xis, ípsilon, zê

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Spanish jota (“jota”), from earlier xota, from Mozarabic *šáwta (“jump”), from Latin saltō (“to dance”).

Noun

jota f (plural jotas)

1. jota (dance)
2. jota (music)

Related terms

• saltar
• salto

Further reading

• “jota”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxota/ [ˈxo.t̪a]

• Audio (Spain):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ota
• Syllabification: jo‧ta

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin iota, from Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta, “iota”).

Noun

jota f (plural jotas)

1. jot; iota
2. The name of the Latin script letter J/j.
3. a jack in a deck of cards

Derived terms

• ni jota (“nothing at all”)

Etymology 2

From joto.

Noun

jota f (plural jotas)

1. (Mexico, derogatory, vulgar) alternative form of joto (“faggot”)

   Synonym: maricón

   ¡Ay que jota!

   Oh what a fag!

Etymology 3

From older xota, from Mozarabic *šáwta (“jump”), from Latin saltō (“to dance”). Doublet of salta.

Noun

jota f (plural jotas)

1. jota (Iberian folk dance)
2. jota (music to which a jota is danced)

Descendants

• → English: jota

Further reading

• “jota”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Swedish

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /²juːta/

Noun

jota n

1. (negative polarity item) iota (small amount)

Usage notes

Almost exclusively used in the expression inte ett jota (“not one iota, nothing at all”).

See also

• dugg
• dyft
• piss
• skit
• skvatt
• smack

References

• “jota”, in Svensk ordbok [Dictionary of Swedish] (in Swedish)
• “jota”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• “jota”, in Svenska Akademiens ordbok [Dictionary of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)

Anagrams

• ojat

Tagalog

Alternative forms

• hota

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈhota/ [ˈhoː.t̪ɐ]
• Rhymes: -ota
• Syllabification: jo‧ta

Etymology 1

Unadapted borrowing from Spanish jota, the Spanish name of the letter J / j, from Latin iota, from Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta, “iota”).

Noun

jota (Baybayin spelling ᜑᜓᜆ)

1. (historical) the name of the Latin script letter J/j, in the Abecedario

   Synonym: (in the Filipino alphabet) dyey

Etymology 2

Unadapted borrowing from Spanish jota, from older xota, from Mozarabic *šáwta (“jump”), from Latin saltō (“to dance”). Doublet of salta.

Noun

jota (Baybayin spelling ᜑᜓᜆ)

1. (music, dance) jota

Further reading

• “jota”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018

Yao (Africa)

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *-jóta (“to warm oneself”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-jot- (“to burn (of a fire)”).

Verb

-jota (infinitive kota, perfective -jotile)

1. to sit near a fire in order to get warm

Derived terms

• -jotela (“to warm oneself in the sun”)

References

• Ciyawo - English Dictionary: Dikishonale ja Ŵakulijiganya
• Padre Pedro Dupeyron (1880), Pequeno Vademecum da Lingua Bantu na Provincia de Moçambique ou Breve Estudo da Lingua Chi-Yao ou Adjaua‎^[4], Administração do Novo Mensageiro do Coraçao de Jesus, page 153
• Rev. Alexander Hetherwick, M.A., F.R.G.S. (1902), A Handbook of the Yao Language‎^[5], Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, page 161
• Meredith Sanderson, M.R.C.S., F.R.G.S., F.R.A.I. (1922), A Yao Grammar‎^[6], Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, page 170