Wu

noun

ˈwü How to pronounce Wu (audio)
: a group of Chinese dialects spoken principally in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) Wú, historical kingdom coextensive with the dialect area

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Wu was in 1908

Rhymes for Wu

See All Rhymes for Wu

Browse Nearby Words

wtr
Wu
Wuchang
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Wu. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of foible

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Regarding the Incorrect Use of 'Decimate'

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What to Call the Inept, Incompetent, and Inferior

Strange Words for Body Functions

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

Cattywampus, Taradiddle, and More Funny-Sounding Words

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?
See More

Popular

See More

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

What to Call the Inept, Incompetent, and Inferior

Strange Words for Body Functions
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Sounds Like... Quiz June 2026 Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All