Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "jolly" shine a yi farin ciki da fara'a, sau da yawa ana bayyana su da ruhohi masu kyau, rashin tausayi, da jin daɗi. Hakanan za'a iya amfani da shi don kwatanta wani ko wani abu mai rai, mai rai, ko cike da nishadi. A matsayin adverb, "jolly" yana nufin sosai ko matuƙar, kamar yadda a cikin "I'm jolly happy to see you!"