dio

Dio is a term that can refer to multiple subjects in music, fiction, and language. In Italian, dio means “god” and appears in everyday language as well as in names and cultural references. The word has been adopted as a stage name and surname by various artists and characters.

Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010) was an American heavy metal singer and songwriter. He performed with Rainbow and joined Black Sabbath in 1979 before forming the band Dio in 1982. The group released Holy Diver (1983), The Last in Line (1984), and Sacred Heart (1985), among other albums. Dio’s work is noted for its operatic vocal style, fantasy-inspired imagery, and influence on 1980s metal.

Dio Brando, later known simply as DIO, is a fictional antagonist in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, created by Hirohiko Araki. Introduced in Part 1: Phantom Blood as a rival to Jonathan Joestar, he becomes a vampire and later, in Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, uses the Stand The World, a power that can stop time. The character is central to the series’ themes of ambition and power.

In broader use, Dio may appear as a surname or given name and can reference other cultural or fictional figures sharing the name. The term’s popularity is largely tied to its associations with music, manga, and Italian language.