じゃ

Etymology 2
Contraction of.

Conjunction

 * 1)  so, then&mdash;used for connecting to a reasonable conclusion, supposition

Interjection

 * 1) well; then; so
 * 2) by extension from the "so then" meaning: bye, goodbye

Etymology 3
Contraction of.

Verb

 * 1) to be

Usage notes
Variation on the Japanese copula used in western Japan, such as in Chūgoku, Shikoku, or Kyūshū; particularly common in Hiroshima. The use of is also common in fictional dialogue attributed to archaic characters. In Kansai, changed to  in the late Edo period.

Etymology 4
Kanji reading.

Noun

 * 1)  generic name for a large snake; a heavy drinker
 * 2)  a moral wrong; a bad attitude; maliciousness, wickedness; such a person
 * 3)  short for ; short for