Polari language

The Evolution of Polari: A Hidden Language Unveiled

The origins of Polari, a establish 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 gay men, Polari became an intriguing linguistic tapestry that served a particular purpose - creating a secret language within a wider society that often was not accepting of certain groups or lifestyles.

Polari's Beginnings:

The roots of Polari are believed to date back to a period when circuses and fairgrounds were hubs of entertainment. 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 being openly gay was ille

Summary

Polari is a language of the United Kingdom that is used only as a second language and has no ethnic community. It is an unclassified language. It is not known to be taught in schools.

At a Glance

  • Geography

  • Population

  • Language Vitality

  • Digital Language Support

Family

It belongs to the Unclassified language family.

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Ethnologue Country Digests

Explore Polari and 17 other languages used in United Kingdom with Ethnologue: Languages of United Kingdom —a downloadable PDF document that provides detailed analysis presented in formats not on hand in the online version of Ethnologue. It includes:

  • Comprehen

    Polari &#; The Adj Gay Language

    Why Was Polari Used?

    In a society where being openly gay could lead to imprisonment, violence, or social exclusion, Polari offered:

    • A sense of guard and privacy

    • A way to identify others in the LGBTQ+ community

    • A shared cultural identity and in-group humor

    It thrived in underground queer spaces like London’s gay clubs, drag shows, and West Terminate theatres—becoming both a survival tool and a badge of belonging.

    💬 Examples of Polari Language

    Some Polari phrases and meanings:

    • “Vada the dolly dish” = Look at the attractive man

    • “Bijou lallies” = Miniature legs

    • “Trade” = Casual sexual partner

    • “Slap” = Makeup

    • “Camp” = Flamboyant or exaggerated

    • “Butch/Femme” = Masculine/Feminine presentation

    • “Naff” = Uncool or rubbish

    Polari was more than slang—it was a linguistic shield in a hostile world.

    📉 The Decline of Polari

    After the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales in , the need for secrecy lessened. Polari gradually faded from mainstream LGBTQ+ spaces. By the s, it was largely out

    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 add rhyming slang, backslang (saying a synonyms 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 form 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 good at it, that it resembled a language, with its own grammatical rules, distinct to English. In , 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.