Polari gay slang
Polari: The Lost Language of Gay Men
What is Polari?
Polari is a more recent spelling. In the past, it was also known as Palari, Palare, Parlaree or a variety of similar spellings. It is mainly a lexicon, derived from a variety of sources. Some of the most common involve rhyming slang, backslang (saying a word as if it's spelt backwards), Italian, Occitan, French, Lingua Franca, American airforce slang, drug-user slang, Parlyaree (an older form of slang used by tinkers, beggars and travelling players) and Cant (an even older establish of slang used by criminals). Polari can be classed as a language variety, a sociolect, or an anti-language.
While it was mainly used as a lexicon, some of the more adept speakers were so pleasant at it, that it resembled a language, with its own grammatical rules, distinct to English. In 2010, Cambridge University labelled Polari as an "endangered language".
Who used it?
Mainly gay men, although also lesbians, female impersonators, theatre people, prostitutes and sea-queens (gay men in the merchant navy). It was not limited to gay men, however. Vertical people who were associated to the theatre also used it, and there are numerous cases of
Polari – The Secret Same-sex attracted Language
Why Was Polari Used?
In a society where organism openly gay could conduct to imprisonment, violence, or social exclusion, Polari offered:
A sense of safety and privacy
A way to detect others in the Homosexual community
A shared cultural individuality and in-group humor
It thrived in underground queer spaces like London’s gay clubs, drag shows, and West End theatres—becoming both a survival tool and a badge of belonging.
💬 Examples of Polari Language
Some Polari phrases and meanings:
“Vada the dolly dish” = Glance at the attractive man
“Bijou lallies” = Small legs
“Trade” = Casual sexual partner
“Slap” = Makeup
“Camp” = Extravagant or exaggerated
“Butch/Femme” = Masculine/Feminine presentation
“Naff” = Uncool or rubbish
Polari was more than slang—it was a linguistic shield in a unfriendly world.
📉 The Decline of Polari
After the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales in 1967, the need for secrecy lessened. Polari gradually faded from mainstream LGBTQ+ spaces. By the 1970s, it was largely out of employ, though it remains culturally significant.
💡 Polari fun fact: British comedia
The origins of Polari: How Bona to Vada your Dolly Old Eek
12 Apr 2011
In a recent blog post about the Evolving English exhibition, I mentioned Polari.
Polari (or alternatively palari, parlare, parlary) was a covert language or same-sex attracted slang, popular with the British lgbtq+ community from about 1900 until the 1970s, and made famous by the 1960s radio display Round the Horne with Kenneth Williams.
But what are its origins? Well, Polari is a complex language and a mixture of rhyming slang; backslang; Italian; Occitan; French, parlyaree, a slang used by sailors and travellers; cant, a slang used by criminals; and Yiddish. There was a West End dialect, based on theatre-speak and an East End dialect that was spoken by sailors and canal men. And because of the popularity of the radio show, Polari could often be establish in numerous middle-class households in the Sixties.
I recall my Mother saying to me when I’d fallen over “come on, give me a butcher’s at your lallies and dannies” Which is a heady combination of cockney rhyming slang (butcher’s connect, look), Polari for legs and Yorkshire slang for hands. I’ve no concept how she knows Yorkshire slang. She comes from Tooti
The Evolution of Polari: A Hidden Language Unveiled
The origins of Polari, a create of cant slang, can be traced back to the 19th century in the United Kingdom. Born out of the interactions between various subcultures and societal groups, including seafarers, traveling entertainers, criminals, and same-sex attracted men, Polari became an intriguing linguistic tapestry that served a particular purpose - creating a secret language within a wider world that often was not accepting of certain groups or lifestyles.
Polari's Beginnings:
The roots of Polari are believed to go out back to a period when circuses and fairgrounds were hubs of fun. Performers, known as "showmen," developed a lingo called Parlyaree that helped to differentiate them from the 'rubes' or general public. Similarly, sailors used a version known as Lingua Franca or Mediterranean Lingua Franca, a pidgin language used to facilitate communication in the diverse and multinational environment of the sea.
Polari and the Gay Subculture in the 20th Century:
In the first half of the 20th century, when organism openly gay was illegal and heavily stigmatized in the UK, Polari was adopted by same-sex attracted men as a covert means of communicat
Polari
Polari (also seen as 'Palare') is a gay slang language, which has now almost died out. It was more common in the 1960's when gays had more need of a private slang. When I started to study Polari, it was tough to find any written material about Polari as what little used to exist was out of print. However, in the last few years, more and more people possess been finding out about it, and several web sites and magazine articles have been written.
Polari featured heavily in the "Julian and Sandy" sketches on the BBC radio program "Round the Horne" in the late 60s, and this is how a lot of people first heard of Polari. A few words enjoy 'bona' can still be seen in gay publications, used for camp consequence. There are even hairdressers in London and Brighton called "Bona Riah".
Polari itself was never clearly defined: an ever-changing collection of slang from various sources including Italian, English (backwards slang, rhyming slang), circus slang, canal-speak, Yiddish and Gypsy languages. It is impossible to reveal which slang words are real Polari.
In London, there was a West End dialect, based on theatre-speak, which was posher than the East Termination dialect, based on cana