bona: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal/Slang, Historical (Polari)
Quick answer
What does “bona” mean?
Genuine, good, or excellent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Genuine, good, or excellent.
In Polari (historical British slang), means 'good' or 'genuine'; in modern informal usage, can denote something excellent or authentic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, primarily associated with historical Polari slang. In American English, rarely used outside of very niche contexts or as a borrowing from other languages (e.g., Latin, Italian).
Connotations
In UK: historical gay culture, theatricality, secrecy. In US: largely neutral, sometimes associated with 'bona fide' (Latin for 'in good faith').
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. Higher historical recognition in UK due to Polari.
Grammar
How to Use “bona” in a Sentence
adjective-noun (bona drag)predicate adjective (that's bona)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bona” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- That's a bona drag, my dear.
- She had a bona eek (face).
American English
- He made a bona fide attempt.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Only in the fixed Latin phrase 'bona fide' (e.g., 'a bona fide offer').
Academic
Used in discussions of Polari or historical sociolinguistics.
Everyday
Virtually unused in general modern conversation.
Technical
No common technical usage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bona”
- Using 'bona' as a standalone adjective in general modern English.
- Assuming it is a common contemporary word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare in modern general English. It survives mainly in the fixed phrase 'bona fide' and in historical discussions of Polari.
It is a Polari phrase meaning 'good to see (you)'.
In contemporary English, no. Doing so would be seen as highly affected or a deliberate historical reference.
'Bona' was the Polari adjective for 'good'. 'Bona fide' is a Latin phrase adopted into English meaning 'authentic' or 'in good faith'.
Genuine, good, or excellent.
Bona is usually informal/slang, historical (polari) in register.
Bona: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbəʊ.nə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈboʊ.nə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bona fide (in good faith)”
- “bona to vada (good to see)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'bona fide' meaning 'genuine'; 'bona' is the 'good' part of that phrase.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOOD IS GENUINE (bona = genuine = good).
Practice
Quiz
In which historical sociolect was 'bona' a common word for 'good'?