doco: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “doco” mean?
An informal, chiefly Australian term for a documentary film or television programme.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An informal, chiefly Australian term for a documentary film or television programme.
A non-fiction film or series presenting factual information about a subject, often in a narrative or journalistic style. In informal Australian and New Zealand English, can refer broadly to any factual, informative film content.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Rarely used in British English; 'documentary' is the universal term. Almost never used in American English; would likely cause confusion. It is predominantly Australian and New Zealand English.
Connotations
In Aus/NZ: casual, unpretentious, familiar. In UK/US: would be marked as a foreign colloquialism, potentially seen as slang or jargon.
Frequency
High frequency in informal Australian contexts. Very low to zero frequency in British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “doco” in a Sentence
watch + [doco]make/produce + [doco]see/catch + [doco] + on TV[Doco] + about + topicVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doco” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used. Use 'documentary', 'factual content', 'non-fiction series'.
Academic
Not used. Use 'documentary film', 'non-fiction media'.
Everyday
Common in Australian/New Zealand casual conversation about television and film.
Technical
Not used in film/TV production terminology internationally. Use 'documentary'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doco”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doco”
- Using 'doco' in formal writing.
- Using 'doco' with speakers unfamiliar with Australian English.
- Spelling it as 'docko' or 'docco'.
- Assuming it's a global English term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal colloquialism used primarily in Australian and New Zealand English. It is not part of Standard International English.
No. You should always use the full term 'documentary' or 'documentary film' in any formal or academic context.
Most likely not, unless they are familiar with Australian culture and slang. It is advisable to use 'documentary' when speaking with people from other English-speaking regions.
The plural is 'docus' or more commonly 'docos' (e.g., 'I've watched three great docos this week').
An informal, chiefly Australian term for a documentary film or television programme.
Doco is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Doco: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdəʊ.kəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdoʊ.koʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “True blue doco (Aus: an authentic, typically Australian documentary)”
- “Doco-drama (a dramatised documentary, though 'docudrama' is the standard term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a documentary filmmaker in Australia saying, 'Let's shoot this DOCO' quickly – DO for Documentary, CO for the tail end.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A JOURNEY ("That doco took us through the history of the reef"), UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING ("The doco really opened my eyes").
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'doco' commonly used and understood?