
Polari
Sign in to savePolari () is a form of slang or cant historically used primarily in the United Kingdom among the gay subculture, as well as some actors, circus and fairground performers, professional wrestlers, merchant navy sailors, criminals, and prostitutes.
Key facts
- Language.name
- Polari
- Language.nativename
- Palare, Parlary, Palarie, Palari
- Language.region
- United Kingdom
- Language.speakers
- none
- Language.ref
- e18
- Language.familycolor
- creole
- Language.family
- English-based slang and other Indo-European influences
- Language.iso3
- pld
- Language.glotto
- pola1249
- Language.glottorefname
- Polari
- Language.notice
- IPA
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Sources (7)
via Wikidata · CC0
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Article
13 sectionsContents
- Terminology
- Description
- Usage
- Decline
- Mainstream usage
- Legacy and revival
- In popular culture
- Glossary
- Usage examples
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Polari () is a form of slang or cant historically used primarily in the United Kingdom among the gay subculture, as well as some actors, circus and fairground performers, professional wrestlers, merchant navy sailors, criminals, and prostitutes.
There is some debate about its origins, but it can be traced to at least the 19th century and possibly as early as the 16th century. Polari has a long-standing connection with Punch and Judy street puppeteers, who traditionally used it to converse.