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jaffa

A type of sweet orange, normally seedless.

ˈd͡ʒæfəSilenthistorical337 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

A type of sweet orange, normally seedless.

Origin: From Jaffa, an ancient port city in Israel from which the oranges were exported. The sense "impotent male" is a reference to being "seedless"; see seed. The cricketing sense, of a 'sweet ball' (from the bowler's perspective), is a metaphor further reinforced in Australian English where Jaffa is also a trademark for a popular lolly that is red and round. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"jaffa" means a type of sweet orange, normally seedless. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

For ESL learners

"jaffa" is informal English meaning a type of sweet orange, normally seedless. It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "a type of sweet orange" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "jaffa" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

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Global
#2·Apr 27, 2026Global

(slang) An impotent or infertile male.

Heard in the wild
  • “Excavations at Jaffa indicate that the city was settled as early as the [Early Bronze Age](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age "Bronze Age").”

  • “West")[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_V._Jaffa#cite_note-West_2015-4) | | Notable works | _Crisis of the House Divided_ (1959) | | | **Harry Victor Jaffa** (October 7, 1918 – January 10, 2015) was an American political philosopher, historian, columnist, and professor.”

  • “In their most common form, Jaffa cakes are circular, 2+1⁄8 inches (54mm) in diameter, and have three layers: a [Genoise sponge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genoise "Genoise") base, a layer of orange-flavoured jam, and a coating of [chocolate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate "Chocolate").”

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Global
#3·Apr 27, 2026Global

(cricket) A ball that is very difficult for the batsman to hit because it moves erratically either through the air or off the pitch.

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For specific readers

"jaffa" means a type of sweet orange, normally seedless. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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