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Josh (disambiguation)

Josh is a masculine given name, typically a diminutive of Joshua, which originates from the Hebrew name Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "God is deliverance". It is also an English verb meaning to tease or banter with someone in a good-natured, playful way, often as part of informal joking or ribbing, with origins traced to American English slang around the mid-19th century. As a noun, josh refers to such a jest or piece of banter. In religious contexts, Josh denotes a city in the Book of Mormon, described as a wicked settlement in the ancient Americas that was destroyed by fire during the cataclysmic events at the time of Jesus Christ's death. The name is borne by numerous notable individuals across entertainment, sports, and other fields, including actors like Josh Hutcherson and Josh Gad, musician Josh Groban, and quarterback Josh Allen.

Entertainment

Film

Josh (2000 film) is a Bollywood action-drama directed by , starring as Max and as his twin sister Shirley, with and in supporting roles. Released on June 9, 2000, in India, the film is set in and revolves around rival street gangs—the Eagles led by Max and the Scorpions led by Prakash—amid themes of gang rivalry, forbidden romance between Shirley and Prakash's brother , and communal tensions. Loosely inspired by the 1961 musical , it incorporates elements of Romeo and Juliet-style conflict adapted to an Indian coastal backdrop, emphasizing brotherhood and redemption. The film received mixed critical reception for its execution and sibling casting but was a moderate success, grossing approximately ₹30 in against a ₹12 budget, boosted by Shah Rukh Khan's star power and songs like "Apun Bola." Josh (2009 Telugu film) is a romantic drama directed by debutant Vasu Varma and produced by Dil Raju, starring Naga Chaitanya Akkineni as Satya, a college student from Vizag navigating politics and relationships in Hyderabad, alongside Karthika Nair as Vidya, with supporting performances by Prakash Raj, J. D. Chakravarthi, and Sunil. Released on September 4, 2009, it explores youth culture, college elections influenced by external politicians, and personal growth through Satya's involvement in a student group led by a destructive mentor. The film marked Naga Chaitanya's debut and was praised for its realistic portrayal of urban youth issues and Sandeep Chowta's soundtrack, achieving commercial success with strong openings in Andhra Pradesh, contributing to its status as a hit. Josh (2010 Bengali film) is an action-comedy directed by Ravi Kinagi, starring Jeet as Indranil (Indra), a young man entangled in family feuds and romance, with Srabanti Chatterjee as Anuradha, his best friend's sister, and Tapas Paul in a key role. Released on July 30, 2010, and set in Kolkata, it follows Indra's efforts to protect Anuradha amid gang violence and themes of loyalty and brotherhood, serving as a remake of the 2005 Telugu film Bhadra. The movie blended high-energy action sequences with romantic elements and humor, receiving positive audience feedback for Jeet's charismatic performance and Jeet Gannguli's music, while grossing around ₹5 crore to emerge as a box office hit. Josh (2013 Pakistani film), subtitled Independence Through Unity, is a drama directed, written, and produced by Iram Parveen Bilal, starring as , a schoolteacher investigating her nanny's disappearance, which uncovers feudal oppression and partition-era traumas affecting identity and class divides. Released on August 9, 2013, during , it addresses social issues like bonded labor and in rural , drawing from real events to critique Pakistan's feudal system. The film earned acclaim for its bold narrative, strong performances—particularly Sheikh's—and atmospheric , though it faced distribution challenges; it grossed Rs. 3.3 domestically and gained international recognition at festivals for its cultural significance. Recent short films include Josh (Short 2024), an production released on , 2024, by Namastey Flix, which explores personal relationships in a concise romantic narrative under 30 minutes. Similarly, Josh (Video 2024), also from Namastey Flix and released the same day, is an experimental short delving into themes of and in a environment, where protagonist fixates on fellow resident . Films titled Josh predominantly emerge from South Asian cinema, including Bollywood, Telugu, Bengali, and Pakistani industries, often favoring , romance, and genres that reflect regional social dynamics like , struggles, and . Major entries, such as the 2000 Bollywood release, highlight commercial viability through star-driven narratives and music, influencing subsequent adaptations across languages.

Television

Josh is a British sitcom that aired from 2014 to 2017, centering on the everyday mishaps of three flatmates in their twenties living in a London flat near . The series was created by comedian , who also stars as the titular character, a socially awkward radio producer, alongside as the ambitious but indecisive Kate and as the laid-back Owen. Recurring themes include navigating adult responsibilities, romantic entanglements, and comedic conflicts with their overbearing landlord Geoff, portrayed by . A pilot episode premiered in 2014 as part of BBC's Comedy Feeds, followed by three seasons totaling 19 episodes, with the final season concluding in 2017. The show highlights key plotlines such as Josh's disastrous attempts at dating, group dynamics strained by house rules, and interventions by Geoff, who often meddles in their personal lives for comic effect. Notable episodes explore friendship under pressure, like "Swimming and Kissing" from season 1, where Josh attends a social event that spirals into chaos, and season 3 storylines involving career setbacks and romantic pursuits that underscore millennial anxieties. No standalone specials were produced, but the series maintained a consistent focus on relatable humor derived from cohabitation and personal growth. Originally broadcast on , the series transitioned with later seasons to the channel's online platform in 2016 following 's shift to digital-only format, with select episodes airing on to broaden accessibility. Critics praised its authentic portrayal of struggles and strong ensemble chemistry, particularly Edmondson's timing and Widdicombe's self-deprecating performance, though some noted the premise's familiarity; it holds a 6.7/10 rating on from over 1,100 user reviews. Internationally, refers to the 2003 Hindi-language mini-series Aktion Unlimited , which aired on Star Plus and followed an ex-cop () and ex-con (Vinod Shehrawat) teaming up to combat crime, produced as a weekly one-hour format costing approximately Rs 50 per episode. This series, spanning about 13 episodes, emphasized high-stakes and buddy dynamics without direct ties to the . No adaptations of the have been produced in other regions as of 2025.

Music

Josh (musician) is the stage name of Filipino artist Josh Cullen Santos, who serves as the lead rapper, lead dancer, and sub-vocalist of the , debuting with the group in 2018 under 1Z Entertainment. Santos is recognized for his rap verses and songwriting contributions to SB19's releases, including the debut studio album (2020), which features original tracks blending pop and elements, and the EP Pagsibol (2021), emphasizing themes of growth and resilience. SB19's post-2020 trajectory marked a significant global rise for , with Santos's dynamic performances helping propel the group to international recognition through viral hits and collaborations. JoSH the Band is a Canadian music group of Indo-Pakistani origin, blending traditional Indian and Pakistani classical influences with Western pop and elements, formed in the late 1990s and active prominently since the early 2000s. Based in , the duo of Rup Magon and Qurram Hussain has released multiple chart-topping albums selling over three million copies worldwide, primarily in and , including Kabhi (2004), which stayed on World Top 20 lists for 26 weeks. Their sound innovates cross-cultural , earning acclaim for tracks that merge rhythmic percussion with melodic hooks. "Josh" is a 2021 single by , released as the lead track from her debut EP Positional Things and classified in the electronic pop genre with glittery synth production and upbeat dance rhythms. The explores themes of energy and chaotic relationships, depicting an obsessive ex through punchy, humorous , and it peaked at number 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart, marking PRC's breakthrough in the Australian music scene. Recent releases under the title "Josh" highlight evolving and R&B expressions. The Book of Josh (2024) is a self-produced /R&B album by artist Josh, featuring introspective tracks like "Never Forget," which reflects on personal growth amid life's challenges. Similarly, (2025), an EP by Josh, delves into personal themes of self-doubt and emotional turmoil through nine songs, including "Self Doubt (Intro)" and "Nightmares and Daydreams," emphasizing raw vulnerability in production. In pop, "" (2025) is a collaborative single by and Josh Brar, produced by Josh Brar, celebrating urban energy with infectious beats and lyrics evoking city life, released under Malwa Belt Wale label. These entries showcase genre diversity from and Indo-Western fusion to electronic pop and /R&B, with notable chart impacts like Peach PRC's entry and SB19's international expansion, alongside collaborations that amplify cultural resonance in global landscapes.

Other uses

Verb

The verb "" means to tease someone in a playful, good-natured manner or to engage in light-hearted banter. It is primarily used in informal , where it functions both transitively (to tease another person) and intransitively (to or banter among oneself or a group). The term originated in , with its uncertain but likely derived from the familiar proper name , possibly evoking a stereotypical old farmer or rural figure associated with jesting. It first appeared in print in 1845, in an article in the St. Louis Reveille newspaper, where it was used intransitively: "Look out in future, and if you must Josh, why, give a private one." By the mid-19th century, it had gained popularity in humorous writing and colloquial speech, evolving into the related noun "joshing" to denote the act of jesting or banter. Although some later theories linked it to the 19th-century humorist Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), the word predates his rise to fame in the . In usage, "" often appears in everyday conversations to indicate non-serious , as in the : "They were just joshing about his new haircut." Historically, it reflected 19th-century American humor, appearing in periodicals and literature to describe friendly ribbing, such as in early diaries from the era. Today, it remains a in informal speech, particularly in the United States, where phrases like "I'm just joshing you" signal playful intent. Culturally, "" is embedded in traditions of banter and , distinguishing it from malicious by emphasizing and mutual ; it frequently surfaces in comedic sketches, casual , and regional without implying . This good-natured has sustained its presence in and everyday language since the , underscoring a lighter side of social interaction.

Acronyms

JOSH is an acronym used in various fields, including , occupational safety, computing, and religious contexts. One prominent example is the Journal of School Health (JOSH), a monthly peer-reviewed publication established in 1931 by the American School Health Association, which focuses on issues in educational settings, such as adolescent , promotion, and school-based policy interventions. In , JOSH also denotes the Journal of Spatial Hydrology, an interdisciplinary academic journal that publishes research on hydrological modeling, geospatial analysis, and , emphasizing peer-reviewed articles, case studies, and software reviews since its inception in the early . The acronym appears in organizational structures as Joint Occupational Safety and Health, referring to (often abbreviated as JOSH committees) that facilitate workplace safety collaboration between employers and employees, commonly implemented in Canadian , , and corporate environments to address hazards, conduct inspections, and ensure compliance with regulations. In computing, particularly grid and distributed systems, JOSH stands for JOb Scheduling Hierarchically, a middleware framework developed around 2003 by Sun Microsystems as part of the Grid Engine project integrated with the Globus Toolkit, designed to enable hierarchical job submission, resource allocation, and monitoring across distributed computing environments. Biblically, JOSH serves as a common abbreviation for Joshua, the sixth book of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), which narrates the conquest of Canaan and holds significance in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions as a historical and theological text. Niche or humorous expansions, such as "Jumbo Ovulation Smells Horrible," appear sporadically in informal acronym databases but lack formal or verifiable usage in contexts.

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