brekky: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Informal (High in Aus/NZ, Medium in UK, Low in US)Informal, colloquial, friendly
Quick answer
What does “brekky” mean?
Informal term for breakfast, especially the morning meal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Informal term for breakfast, especially the morning meal.
Used primarily in Australian and British English as a casual, often affectionate term for the first meal of the day; can imply a relaxed, simple, or social meal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Common in UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Rare in American English, where 'breakfast' is standard even informally.
Connotations
In UK/Aus: friendly, casual, youthful. In US: perceived as a foreign colloquialism, potentially quaint or humorous.
Frequency
High frequency in Australian spoken English. Moderate in UK informal speech. Very low in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “brekky” in a Sentence
have + brekkymake + brekkycook + brekkygrab + a + brekkydo + brekkyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brekky” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'll just brekky on some toast.
- We're brekkied and ready to go.
American English
- Not used as a verb in AmE.
adverb
British English
- We ate brekky-style at noon.
American English
- Not used as an adverb in AmE.
adjective
British English
- She's a big brekky fan.
- They offer a great brekky deal.
American English
- Not used as an adjective in AmE.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Only in very informal office cultures (e.g., 'Let's discuss it over brekky').
Academic
Never used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation among friends/family in relevant dialects.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brekky”
- Using in formal writing.
- Using in American English where it sounds affected.
- Spelling as 'breaky' (associated with breaking).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's informal, colloquial slang, not suitable for formal contexts.
You can, but it will immediately mark you as a non-native speaker or someone using a UK/Australian colloquialism. It's not part of general American informal vocabulary.
'Brekky' is breakfast, typically eaten in the morning. 'Brunch' is a combined late breakfast and early lunch, usually on weekends.
Both are common informal spellings. 'Brekky' is slightly more common in Australia, while 'brekkie' is often seen in the UK. There is no formal rule.
Informal term for breakfast, especially the morning meal.
Brekky is usually informal, colloquial, friendly in register.
Brekky: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɛk.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɛk.i/ (rarely used). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All day brekky”
- “Brekky of champions (play on 'breakfast of champions')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Sounds like 'break' + 'key' – imagine breaking a key off in your door because you're in a hurry to eat your 'brekky'.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMALITY IS SHORTENING (clipping of 'breakfast'), AFFECTION IS DIMINUTIVE ('-y' suffix).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'brekky' be LEAST appropriate?