galah: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very low frequency internationally; common in Australian English)Informal, colloquial. Used primarily in Australian English.
Quick answer
What does “galah” mean?
A type of pink and grey cockatoo native to Australia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of pink and grey cockatoo native to Australia.
A foolish, silly, or easily duped person; a simpleton or idiot. An Australian slang term, often used affectionately in the phrase 'you silly galah!'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is virtually unknown in its slang sense in British or American English. British and American speakers would likely only recognise it as the name of an Australian bird.
Connotations
In Australia: a mild, affectionate insult. In the UK/US: a zoological term with no slang connotation.
Frequency
Very rare in British/American corpora. Common in Australian speech and media.
Grammar
How to Use “galah” in a Sentence
[Pronoun/Name] + be + (a) + galah[Determiner] + silly + galahVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “galah” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not used as an adjective.
American English
- Not used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in ornithological contexts.
Everyday
Used in Australian English for humorous, mild insults.
Technical
Ornithology: Eolophus roseicapilla, a common grey and pink cockatoo.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “galah”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “galah”
- Using it as a serious insult outside Australia.
- Spelling as 'gallah' or 'galar'.
- Using it in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally a mild, humorous, and affectionate insult in Australian English, similar to 'you fool' said with a smile. It is rarely used with serious malice.
You can, but most people will not understand the slang meaning. They may only recognise it as the name of a bird if they have an interest in ornithology.
It is pronounced /ɡəˈlɑː/, with the stress on the second syllable: guh-LAH.
It appears in informal writing, Australian literature, and journalism. It is not used in formal or international business/academic writing unless discussing Australian culture or the bird itself.
A type of pink and grey cockatoo native to Australia.
Galah is usually informal, colloquial. used primarily in australian english. in register.
Galah: in British English it is pronounced /ɡəˈlɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡəˈlɑː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “mad as a gumtree full of galahs (very crazy)”
- “rattle your cage, you galah! (an exclamation of mild annoyance)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a silly person wearing a pink and grey hat, squawking loudly like a parrot. 'Ga-LAH!' sounds like a silly shout.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FOOL IS A NOISY BIRD.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'galah' commonly used as a slang term for a fool?