vego
Low (informal, chiefly Australian and New Zealand English)Informal, colloquial
Definition
Meaning
A person who does not eat meat, fish, or any animal products; a strict vegetarian or vegan.
Used informally to describe a dish or diet that excludes all animal-derived ingredients.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Vego' is a casual, clipped form of 'vegetarian' or 'vegan'. Its meaning depends heavily on context and can refer to a person or to food. It is not a formal or widely recognized term outside specific regions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is very rare in British English and virtually non-existent in American English. It is primarily associated with Australian and New Zealand English.
Connotations
In Australia/NZ: casual, friendly, non-judgmental. Elsewhere: likely to be misunderstood or seen as slang.
Frequency
High frequency in Australian/NZ informal contexts; extremely low elsewhere.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/become/remain] a vegocook for [a] vegocater to [the] vego(s)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be/to go] vego”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in casual conversation about catering for dietary requirements.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation among friends, family, or in casual dining settings in Australia/NZ.
Technical
Not used in scientific, medical, or nutritional contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The cafe has a good vego breakfast.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister is a vego.
- Are there any vego meals on the menu?
- He's been a vego since he was a teenager, so we need to find a suitable restaurant.
- Catering for the event was complicated due to several gluten-free vegos and a nut allergy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'VEGO' as 'VEG-etarian-O' or 'VEG-an-O' – the 'O' makes it sound friendly and Aussie.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS THEIR DIET (informal/casual label).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian "вегa" (veta - veto) or "вего" as a form of "его" (his/its). It is pure slang with no direct Russian equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'vego' in formal writing.
- Using 'vego' outside Australia/NZ and expecting comprehension.
- Spelling it 'veggo' (also common).
- Assuming it strictly means 'vegan'; context is key.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the term 'vego' most commonly used and understood?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'vego' is strictly informal, colloquial slang.
It can mean either, depending on the speaker and context. It's an umbrella term for someone who doesn't eat meat, and may or may not exclude dairy/eggs.
It is not recommended, as it is not widely recognized and may cause confusion. Use 'vegetarian' or 'vegan' instead.
Primarily as a noun ('He's a vego'), but it can also function attributively as an adjective ('vego sausages').