durry
Very Low (regional/slang)Informal, colloquial, slang. Primarily Australian and New Zealand English.
Definition
Meaning
A slang term for a cigarette, especially a roll-your-own cigarette.
Most commonly, a cigarette. Can sometimes refer to a poorly made or cheap cigarette. In Australian usage, almost exclusively means a rolled cigarette.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is highly marked for regional use. Outside of Australia and New Zealand, it is generally not understood. It has a strong connotation of a hand-rolled cigarette (a 'rollie') rather than a pre-made commercial cigarette, though the distinction is not absolute.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is not used in British or American English. British equivalents are 'fag', 'rollie', 'ciggy'. American equivalents are 'cig', 'smoke'.
Connotations
In its primary regions (Aus/NZ), it is a very common, neutral slang term. In the UK/US, it is unknown and would cause confusion.
Frequency
Zero frequency in standard British or American corpora. High frequency in informal Australian/New Zealand speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to roll (someone) a durryto smoke a durryto have a durryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He wouldn't shout if a shark bit him (but he'd shout you for a durry) - Aus idiom meaning very stingy.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common in informal Australian/New Zealand contexts among smokers.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He went outside for a durry.
- Can I borrow your lighter to light this durry?
- After the long meeting, she desperately needed to roll a durry.
- The old tradition of sharing a durry while solving the world's problems continued on the veranda.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'durry' rhyming with 'hurry' – you might hurry outside for a quick durry.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBJECT (specifically a consumable tool for a habitual activity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'дурь' (foolishness, nonsense). They are false friends with completely different meanings.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'durry' in international contexts where it is not understood.
- Spelling it as 'durrie' or 'dury'.
Practice
Quiz
Where is the word 'durry' commonly used and understood?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a regional slang term specific to Australian and New Zealand English.
No, it is very unlikely to be understood in those countries. Use 'cigarette', 'cig', or local slang like 'fag' (UK) instead.
In usage, there is often no difference. However, 'durry' strongly implies a hand-rolled cigarette, while 'cigarette' can mean both hand-rolled and pre-made.
Its etymology is uncertain. It is suggested it may derive from a brand name 'Durry' for rolling tobacco in the early 20th century, or possibly from Romani 'dud' meaning smoke.