# Joanna

/dʒoʊˈænə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/joanna
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a female name

noun · CEFR A1

a common name for a woman.

For teachers: a female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God is gracious'.

- Joanna is starting her new job at the hospital next Monday.
- Joanna was named after her grandmother, following a long-standing family tradition of passing down biblical names through the generations.

### 2. a piano

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Dialect

a slang word for a piano, used mostly in London.

For teachers: Cockney rhyming slang for 'piano' (Joanna / pianner).

- He sat down at the old joanna and started playing a cheerful tune.
- The pub was quiet until someone started hammering away at the joanna in the corner, leading the whole room in a singalong.

Usage: Usually preceded by the definite article 'the'.

## Examples

- He sat down at the joanna and played a song.
- The pub was quiet until someone started banging out old tunes on the joanna in the corner.
- While the club usually hosts electronic acts, they kept an old upright joanna on stage for the occasional jazz pianist who preferred the tactile response of hammers and strings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.