sambo

See also: Sambo and sambó

English

Etymology 1

Abbreviation of sandwich (pronounced "samwich") + excrescent -b- +‎ -o (colloquializing suffix).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Australia):

  (file)

Noun

sambo (plural sambos)

1. (Ireland, Australia, slang) A sandwich.

   Synonyms: (Australia) sanger, sango, sammie, sammo, (UK) sarnie

Etymology 2

From Russian са́мбо (sámbo), abbreviation of самооборо́на/самозащи́та без ору́жия (samooboróna/samozaščíta bez orúžija, “self-defense without weapons”).

Noun

sambo (uncountable)

1. A Russian martial art and combat sport.

Derived terms

• sambist

Translations

martial art

• Armenian: սամբո (hy) (sambo)
• Belarusian: са́мба n (sámba)
• Bulgarian: са́мбо n (sámbo)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 桑搏 (sāngbó)

• Finnish: sambo (fi)
• French: sambo (fr) m
• Georgian: სამბო (sambo)
• Hungarian: szambó
• Japanese: サンボ (ja) (sanbo)
• Korean: 삼보 (ko) (sambo)
• Polish: sambo (pl) n
• Portuguese: sambo m
• Russian: са́мбо (ru) n (sámbo)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: самбо m

  Latin: sambo (sh) n

• Ukrainian: са́мбо n (sámbo)
• Vietnamese: xam-bô, xăm bô

Anagrams

• Bosma, MOABs, MOBAs, ambos, bomas

Danish

Etymology

From sam- (“together”) +‎ bo (“live, reside”).

Adjective

sambo (indeclinable)

1. (botany) monoecious

   Synonym: enbo

   Antonym: særbo

Noun

sambo c (singular definite samboen, plural indefinite samboer)

1. roommate

   Synonyms: samlever, kontubernal, slof, roomie, roommate

Declension

Declension of sambo

common gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	sambo	samboen	samboer	samboerne
genitive	sambos	samboens	samboers	samboernes

References

• “sambo” in Den Danske Ordbog

Esperanto

Etymology

Originally from Portuguese, though reinforced by several other languages.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsambo/
• Rhymes: -ambo
• Syllabification: sam‧bo

Noun

sambo (accusative singular sambon, plural samboj, accusative plural sambojn)

1. samba

Further reading

• “sambo”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “sambo”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Finnish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɑmbo/, [ˈs̠ɑ̝mbo̞]
• Rhymes: -ɑmbo
• Syllabification^(key): sam‧bo
• Hyphenation^(key): sam‧bo

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Russian са́мбо (sámbo).

Noun

sambo

1. sambo (Russian martial art and combat sport)

Declension

Inflection of sambo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		sambo	—
genitive		sambon	—
partitive		samboa	—
illative		samboon	—
		singular	plural
nominative		sambo	—
accusative	nom.	sambo	—
	gen.	sambon
genitive		sambon	—
partitive		samboa	—
inessive		sambossa	—
elative		sambosta	—
illative		samboon	—
adessive		sambolla	—
ablative		sambolta	—
allative		sambolle	—
essive		sambona	—
translative		samboksi	—
abessive		sambotta	—
instructive		—	—
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of sambo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative samboni — accusative nom. samboni — gen. samboni genitive samboni — partitive samboani — inessive sambossani — elative sambostani — illative sambooni — adessive sambollani — ablative samboltani — allative sambolleni — essive sambonani — translative sambokseni — abessive sambottani — instructive — — comitative — — second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative sambosi — accusative nom. sambosi — gen. sambosi genitive sambosi — partitive samboasi — inessive sambossasi — elative sambostasi — illative samboosi — adessive sambollasi — ablative samboltasi — allative sambollesi — essive sambonasi — translative samboksesi — abessive sambottasi — instructive — — comitative — — first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative sambomme — accusative nom. sambomme — gen. sambomme genitive sambomme — partitive samboamme — inessive sambossamme — elative sambostamme — illative samboomme — adessive sambollamme — ablative samboltamme — allative sambollemme — essive sambonamme — translative samboksemme — abessive sambottamme — instructive — — comitative — — second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative sambonne — accusative nom. sambonne — gen. sambonne genitive sambonne — partitive samboanne — inessive sambossanne — elative sambostanne — illative samboonne — adessive sambollanne — ablative samboltanne — allative sambollenne — essive sambonanne — translative samboksenne — abessive sambottanne — instructive — — comitative — — third-person possessor singular plural nominative sambonsa — accusative nom. sambonsa — gen. sambonsa genitive sambonsa — partitive samboaan samboansa — inessive sambossaan sambossansa — elative sambostaan sambostansa — illative samboonsa — adessive sambollaan sambollansa — ablative samboltaan samboltansa — allative sambolleen sambollensa — essive sambonaan sambonansa — translative sambokseen samboksensa — abessive sambottaan sambottansa — instructive — — comitative — —

Etymology 2

From Spanish zambo.

Noun

sambo

1. (historical or archaic) Zambo, Sambo (mixed-race person)

Declension

Inflection of sambo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		sambo	sambot
genitive		sambon	sambojen
partitive		samboa	samboja
illative		samboon	samboihin
		singular	plural
nominative		sambo	sambot
accusative	nom.	sambo	sambot
	gen.	sambon
genitive		sambon	sambojen
partitive		samboa	samboja
inessive		sambossa	samboissa
elative		sambosta	samboista
illative		samboon	samboihin
adessive		sambolla	samboilla
ablative		sambolta	samboilta
allative		sambolle	samboille
essive		sambona	samboina
translative		samboksi	samboiksi
abessive		sambotta	samboitta
instructive		—	samboin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of sambo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative samboni samboni accusative nom. samboni samboni gen. samboni genitive samboni sambojeni partitive samboani sambojani inessive sambossani samboissani elative sambostani samboistani illative sambooni samboihini adessive sambollani samboillani ablative samboltani samboiltani allative sambolleni samboilleni essive sambonani samboinani translative sambokseni samboikseni abessive sambottani samboittani instructive — — comitative — samboineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative sambosi sambosi accusative nom. sambosi sambosi gen. sambosi genitive sambosi sambojesi partitive samboasi sambojasi inessive sambossasi samboissasi elative sambostasi samboistasi illative samboosi samboihisi adessive sambollasi samboillasi ablative samboltasi samboiltasi allative sambollesi samboillesi essive sambonasi samboinasi translative samboksesi samboiksesi abessive sambottasi samboittasi instructive — — comitative — samboinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative sambomme sambomme accusative nom. sambomme sambomme gen. sambomme genitive sambomme sambojemme partitive samboamme sambojamme inessive sambossamme samboissamme elative sambostamme samboistamme illative samboomme samboihimme adessive sambollamme samboillamme ablative samboltamme samboiltamme allative sambollemme samboillemme essive sambonamme samboinamme translative samboksemme samboiksemme abessive sambottamme samboittamme instructive — — comitative — samboinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative sambonne sambonne accusative nom. sambonne sambonne gen. sambonne genitive sambonne sambojenne partitive samboanne sambojanne inessive sambossanne samboissanne elative sambostanne samboistanne illative samboonne samboihinne adessive sambollanne samboillanne ablative samboltanne samboiltanne allative sambollenne samboillenne essive sambonanne samboinanne translative samboksenne samboiksenne abessive sambottanne samboittanne instructive — — comitative — samboinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative sambonsa sambonsa accusative nom. sambonsa sambonsa gen. sambonsa genitive sambonsa sambojensa partitive samboaan samboansa sambojaan sambojansa inessive sambossaan sambossansa samboissaan samboissansa elative sambostaan sambostansa samboistaan samboistansa illative samboonsa samboihinsa adessive sambollaan sambollansa samboillaan samboillansa ablative samboltaan samboltansa samboiltaan samboiltansa allative sambolleen sambollensa samboilleen samboillensa essive sambonaan sambonansa samboinaan samboinansa translative sambokseen samboksensa samboikseen samboiksensa abessive sambottaan sambottansa samboittaan samboittansa instructive — — comitative — samboineen samboinensa

Further reading

• “sambo”, 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 14 May 2026

Italian

Etymology

From Russian са́мбо (sámbo), abbreviation of самооборо́на/самозащи́та без ору́жия (samooboróna/samozaščíta bez orúžija, “self-defense without weapons”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsam.bo/
• Rhymes: -ambo
• Hyphenation: sàm‧bo

Noun

sambo m (uncountable)

1. Sambo (Russian martial art)

Further reading

• “sambo”, in Vocabolario Treccani on line (in Italian), Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana, 2026

Lingala

Etymology

See the Lingala numeral nsambo.

Numeral

sambo

1. seven

Malagasy

Etymology

Unknown.

Noun

sambo

1. boat

Norwegian

Etymology

From sam- (“together”) +‎ bo (“live, reside”).

Noun

sambo

1. roommate, typically with a romantic connotation

Inflection

Inflection of sambo

	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈsɐ̃.bu/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈsɐ̃.bu/

• Rhymes: -ɐ̃bu
• Hyphenation: sam‧bo

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Russian.

Noun

sambo m (uncountable)

1. (martial arts) Sambo (a Russian martial art)

Etymology 2

Verb

sambo

1. first-person singular present indicative of sambar

Further reading

• “sambo”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “sambo”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish zambo.

Noun

sambo m (uncountable)

1. Zambo

Declension

singular only	indefinite	definite
nominative-accusative	sambo	samboul
genitive-dative	sambo	samboului
vocative	samboule

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsambo/ [ˈsãm.bo]
• Rhymes: -ambo
• Syllabification: sam‧bo

Etymology 1

Internationalism, from Russian са́мбо (sámbo).

Noun

sambo m (uncountable)

1. Sambo (a Russian martial art)

   Hypernym: deporte de combate

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Quechua sambu.

Noun

sambo m (plural sambos)

1. (Ecuador) kind of pumpkin

   Hypernym: calabaza

Further reading

• “sambo”, 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 1

• (noun) From sam- (“co-”) +‎ -bo (“habitant”).
• (verb) From sam- (“co-”) +‎ bo (“to live”), compare sammanbo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (noun, sometimes proscribed) /ˈsambʊ/

  • Audio:

    (file)

• IPA^(key): (verb, noun) /²samˌbuː/

Noun

sambo c

1. partner with whom one lives, usually not in a common law marriage relationship; cohabitant

Usage notes

The pronunciation of this word was originally with accent 2, secondary stress and a long final vowel, i.e. /²samˌbuː/, which is in line with other compounds with -bo, e.g. öbo (“islander”), stadsbo (“city dweller”). For most speakers, the pronunciation has, however, shifted to accent 1 with a short final vowel without secondary stress, i.e. /ˈsambʊ/, probably due to the influence from words like hambo (“type of folk dance”) and loanwords ending in -o, which commonly receive accent 1, e.g. mambo (“mambo, type of dance”), sambo (“Sambo”), tango, mango, etc. This accent 1 pronunciation also applies to other words coined with sambo in mind, e.g. särbo (“partner one does not live together with”), mambo (“person who lives with their mother”).

This causes uncertainty in the declension of this word. Whereas common gender words with a long final /uː/ are regularly pluralized with -r, i.e. sko > skor, öbo > öbor, common gender words with a final /ʊ/ do not have a native pluralization. For this reason, many speakers colloquially treat sambo as a loanword and pluralize the word with a foreign -s plural marker, i.e. sambos, or with a double plural marker -sar, i.e. sambosar.

This pronunciation and declension are usually proscribed, and dictionaries like SAOL and Svensk ordbok recommend using the accent 2 pronunciation with an -r plural in line with words like öbo, which they likewise recommend for words like särbo and mambo.

Declension

Declension of sambo

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	sambo	sambos
	definite	sambon	sambons
plural	indefinite	sambor	sambors
	definite	samborna	sambornas

Declension of sambo (colloquial, proscribed)

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	sambo	sambos
	definite	sambon	sambons
plural	indefinite	sambos, sambosar	sambos, sambosars
	definite	sambosarna	sambosarnas

Related terms

• delsbo
• exbo
• helgbo
• kombo
• kvarbo
• mambo
• provbo
• särbo

Verb

sambo (present sambor, preterite sambodde, supine sambott, imperative sambo)

2. to cohabit

Conjugation

Conjugation of sambo (weak)

	active		passive
infinitive	sambo		—
supine	sambott		—
imperative	sambo		—
imper. plural1	sambon		—
	present	past	present	past
indicative	sambor	sambodde	—	—
ind. plural1	sambo	sambodde	—	—
subjunctive2	sambo	sambodde	—	—
present participle		samboende
past participle		—

¹ Archaic. ² Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

Etymology 2

From Spanish zambo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsambʊ/
• Rhymes: -ambʊ

Noun

sambo c

1. (archaic, derogatory) Sambo; the offspring of a Native American and a person of African descent

Declension

Declension of sambo

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	sambo	sambos
	definite	sambon	sambons
plural	indefinite	sambor	sambors
	definite	samborna	sambornas

References

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