# Jose

/ˌhoʊˈzeɪ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common male name in Spanish and Portuguese, the same as Joseph in English.

For teachers: a male given name of Spanish and Portuguese origin, derived from the Hebrew name Yosef.

- My friend Jose is moving to Madrid to start his new job.
- Jose was named after his grandfather, following a long-standing family tradition in their village.

### 2. female name

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short name for a woman, often for the name Josephine.

For teachers: a female given name, frequently serving as a diminutive or hypocorism for Josephine.

- Everyone in the office calls her Jose instead of Josephine.
- Although her legal name was Josephine, she preferred the gender-neutral nickname Jose in all her professional correspondence.

## Examples

- My friend Jose lives in Madrid.
- The teacher called on Jose to answer the question about the history of Mexico.
- While the name is traditionally associated with Spanish-speaking cultures, Jose has become a globally recognized name due to migration and the international influence of Hispanic literature and sports.

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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.