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Polari – this bizarre slang has been around for hundreds of years.

Rainbow plaguq on Leeds City Varieties Theater

Polari is the name of a form of slang that was once used in Britain by actors, circus and fairground showmen, professional wrestlers, merchant navy sailors, criminals, prostitutes, and the gay subculture. It was around at least as early as the 19th century and possibly as early as the 16th century (it is closely related to Parlyaree, which has been in use at least the 17th century).

It was used by the gay subculture until the 1960’s. You’ve probably heard the language spoken in Doctor Who, Doom Patrol, Filth Rich and Catflap, Velvet Goldmine, or Dragon Quest, sometimes subtitled like a foreign language. What does Polari look like?

Here are the first twelve numbers in Polari:

Numbers:

NumberDefinition
medzahalf
unaoneyone
dooeytwo
traythree
quarterfour
chinkerfive
saysix
say oneysetterseven
say dooeyottereight
say traynobbernine
daitureten
long dedgerleptaeleven
kenzatwelve

Here’s a more comprehensive Polari glossary. You may recognize some of the words. Some Polari phrases have worked their way into our everyday language.

WordDefinition
acdcbibibisexual
ajaxnearby (shortened form of “adjacent to”)
alamo!they’re attractive!
arvato have sex
aunt nelllisten!
aunt nellsears
aunt nelly fakesearrings
barneya fight
batbattsbatesshoes
bevvydrink
bitcheffeminate or passive man
bijousmall/little
bitainewhore
blagpick up
bonagood
bona nochygoodnight
butchmasculine woman
buvarea drink; something drinkable
cackletalk/gossip
campeffeminate
capellocapellacapellikapellahat
carseykarseykhazitoilet
catstrousers
charperto search or to look
charpering omipoliceman
chickenyoung man
clobberclothes
codbad
corybungusbackside, posterior
covetaxi
dhobi / dhobie / dohbiewash
dinarimoney
dishbuttocks
dollypretty, nice, pleasant
donawoman
ecafface
eekface
endshair
esongsedonnose
fambleshands
fantabulosafabulous/wonderful
farting crackerstrousers
feele / feely / fillychild/young
feele omi / feely omiyoung man
flowerylodgings, accommodations
fogustobacco
fortunigorgeous, beautiful
fruitgay man
fungusold man/beard
geltmoney
handbagmoney
hooferdancer
irishwig
jarryfood
jubesbreasts
kaffiestrousers
khazitoilet, also spelt carsey
lacoddybody
lallies / lylieslegs
lallie tappersfeet
latty / lattieroom, house or flat
laulay or place upon
lavswords
lillshands
lillypolice
lyleslegs
lucoddybody
luppersfingers
mangariefood
mankyworthless
martinishands
measuresmoney
medzerhalf
medzereddivided
meeseplain, ugly
meshigenernutty, crazy, mental
meshigener carseychurch
metzasmoney
mincewalk affectedly
moguedeceive
mungedarkness
naffawful, dull, hetero
nanaevil
nantinot, no, none
national handbagdole, welfare, government financial assistance
nishtanothing
oglelook admiringly
ogleseyes
oglefakesglasses
omiman
onknose
orbseyes
orderly daughterspolice
ovenmouth
palare / polari pipetelephone
palliassback
park, parkergive
platefeet
palonewoman
potsteeth
reeftouch
rozzerpoliceman
riah / rihahair
riah zhoosherhairdresser
scarperto run off
schardashame
schlumphdrink
schmutterapparel
schoonerbottle
scotchleg
screechmouth, speak
screevewrite
sharpypoliceman
sharpy polonepolicewoman
shushsteal
shush baghold-all
shyker / shycklewig
slapmakeup
stimpslegs
stimpcoversstockings, hosiery
stridestrousers
strillerspiano
switchwig
thewsthighs
toberroad; temporary site for a circus, carnival
todd (Sloan) or todalone
trollto walk about (esp. looking for trade)
vada / varderto see
vera (lynn)gin
voguecigarette
vogueressfemale smoker
wallopdance
yeuteno, none
yewseyes
zhooshstyle hair, tart up, mince
zhooshyshowy