goog: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowInformal, slang, dialectal, dated
Quick answer
What does “goog” mean?
An egg, especially in Australian and New Zealand slang.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An egg, especially in Australian and New Zealand slang; a zero or a failure in cricket (rare); or a derogatory term for a person.
Primarily historical or dialectal slang. In Australian/New Zealand English, it refers to a raw egg or an egg in general. In cricket (dated), it can refer to a delivery bowled with an unorthodox action, or a score of zero. As a derogatory term (chiefly Australian), it can mean a simpleton or an unpleasant person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is not standard in either dialect. Any usage in the UK would be exceptionally rare, likely only understood in historical cricket contexts. In the US, it is essentially unknown except as a potential homophone for the tech company. The 'egg' meaning is almost exclusively Australasian.
Connotations
In Australasia: informal, folksy, or humorous when referring to an egg. In cricket: technical and dated. As a personal insult: derogatory and offensive.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American English. Its frequency is concentrated in Australian and New Zealand English, but even there it is considered informal slang.
Grammar
How to Use “goog” in a Sentence
crack + (open) + googbe + as + full + as + a + googVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Never used, except perhaps in linguistic studies of slang.
Everyday
Only in informal Australian/New Zealand settings among older speakers or in fixed idioms.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts. Obscure in cricket terminology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “goog”
- Using 'goog' as a general word for 'egg' in international contexts. Misspelling as 'google' or 'gook'. Assuming it is a common or current word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a complete coincidence. 'Goog' as slang for egg predates the search engine by decades.
No, it is non-standard, informal slang. You should always use the standard word 'egg'.
When used to mean 'egg', it is informal but not offensive. However, when used as a derogatory term for a person (chiefly Australian), it is offensive.
It is quite rare, even in Australia and New Zealand. Younger generations are less familiar with it. It persists mainly in the idiom 'full as a goog'.
An egg, especially in Australian and New Zealand slang.
Goog is usually informal, slang, dialectal, dated in register.
Goog: in British English it is pronounced /ɡʊɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡʊɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “full as a goog (Australasian slang: completely full, from eating)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Google search for an 'egg' in Australia: you 'goog'-le a 'goog'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HEAD/MIND IS AN EGG (in the insult sense: 'You've got a goog' meaning 'you have an empty head').
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'goog' most likely to be understood to mean 'egg'?