So what is it?
Polari is best known as the underground coded language that emerged within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly among gay men in the UK. Not only was it used as a secret code, but it was also a cultural expression that allowed the community to speak freely at a time when being overheard was genuinely dangerous and people were imprisoned for being gay. Despite the sharp decline after homosexuality was decriminalised, some of its words can be found in dictionaries today.
Origin
Until 1967, homosexual sex was illegal in England and Wales. To avoid imprisonment, gay men used the Polari language that had sprung up in the 1700s and 1800s as a secret language that the Oxford English Dictionary says is “made up of Italianate phrases, Cockney rhyming slang and Roman, Yiddish and Sailor language. For so many people, Polari became a lifeline for expressing identity without fear.
Peak
The 1950s to the 1960s are often considered a time when Polari was at its peak, when homosexuality was not only illegal but also heavily stigmatized. However, it is also considered its prime days as the language/code was commonly used in many private and ‘illegal’ gay drinking establishments, primarily across London.
In the ‘50s and ‘60s, many gay men joined the Merchant Navy to serve as waiters, stewards, or in other positions, and they developed a strong sense of community. This unlikely hotbed became a place of freedom and liberation for these men, who were able to escape the oppressive and hostile atmospheres back home.
These men camped it up, put on drag shows often making lifelong friends and forming relationships in this unique and wonderful community in the Navy.
It was not uncommon for these men to call themselves or others camp and witty names, often referring to themselves as queens. It was also known for these men to feminise references to each other such as replacing ‘he’ with ‘she’ or ‘boy’ with ‘girl’.
Polari was also used in other industries where many gay men were overrepresented. In theatre in the 50’s/60’s, Polari was often used during rehearsals or behind the scenes, basically another opportunity for these men to express themselves fabulously creating a unique backstage culture. Other industries where Polari was commonly used include the market trade stalls, especially the fish markets in London’s East End, circuses, and fairgrounds.
British comedian Kenneth Williams often spoke Polari in his performances on BBC radio and TV programmes in the 1950s and 60s, some of which had up to 20 million listeners at a time, introducing the language to a much wider audience. Although many viewers laughing at home were blissfully unaware of the subversive meaning behind the seemingly-nonsense words.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/20180212-polari-the-code-language-gay-men-used-to-survive
Comics and comedy actors Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick discreetly used Polari in their Sixties BBC comedy skits – although many viewers laughing at home were blissfully unaware of the subversive meaning behind the seemingly nonsense words.
Decline
By the late 1960s, Polari had begun to fall into disuse among the gay subculture.
The need for a secret means of communication in the subculture declined with the partial decriminalisation of adult homosexual acts in England and Wales under the Sexual Offenses Act 1967, and therefore Polari was used substantially less. In the 1970s, the gay liberation movement began to view Polari as old-fashioned and perpetuating harmful camp stereotypes.
Comeback
After Polari became rarely used in the 1970s, there has been a renewed interest in it, especially as part of LGBTQ+ heritage. But also to empower communities to embrace and reflect, reviving the language so they can reclaim their history and hold on to a piece of identity that nearly disappeared. Polari may no longer be a matter of survival, but its wit, warmth, and defiance still have plenty to say about the resilience of a community that had to find its own way of speaking freely.
Polari in popular culture
In 1990 Morrissey released the single “Piccadilly Palare” containing a number of lyrics in Polari and exploring a subculture in which Polari was used.
In Doom Patrol, Danny the Street often speaks Polari. (Retro magazine)
In the 1998 film Velvet Goldmine, two characters speak Polari in a London nightclub. The scene has English subtitles in the American release of the film.
In 2015, Brian Fairbairn and Karl Eccleston made a short film, “Putting on the Dish”, which features a conversation entirely in Polari.
The song Girl Loves Me from David Bowie‘s 2016 album Blackstar features lyrics in both Polari
2024 In the fourth episode of Funny Woman, characters discuss BBC Radio using Polari in Round the Horne and visit a comedy club where gay and entertainment-industry characters converse in Polari.
British singer Olly Alexander released his debut album Polari on 7 February 2025.
Fancy trying a few words yourself? Here’s the full rundown:
A Polari Glossary
Bona – Good or Fabulous. ‘What a Bona surprise Omi!’
Omi – Man. ‘That Omi looks Dolly tonight!’
Palone – Woman. ‘Who’s that glamorous Palone?’
Omi-palone – Gay man. “That Omi-palone over there has the best riah in the bar.”
Dish – Gossip or news. ‘What’s the latest dish, Duckie. Also used to describe an attractive man. “Dish the dirt, was the dish nice?”.
Varda – To look or watch. ‘Varda that dolly frock’
Parlez – Talk or chat. ‘Il meet you for a quick Parlez tonight’
Naff – Boring, underwhelming, tasteless, below average. ‘That performance was proper naff’
Dolly – Lovely, Stylish, Eye-catching, glamorous. ‘She’s looking Dolly tonight’
Cove – Way of saying ‘bloke’ or ‘chap’. ‘That Cove’s a real laugh’.
Riah – Hair. ‘Your Riah looks fabulous after that wash and blow dry’
TBH – to be had. That Palone’s dress is TBH.
Lily – the police, Law. “Vada the lily, let’s troll off sharpish!”
eek – face. “Her eek was covered in slap.”
cod – awful. ‘What a cod wig, dear.’
ajax – nearby. ‘The bevvy bar’s ajax, just round the corner.’
Polari – to talk, or the gay language itself. ‘Can you Polari, or is this all naff to you?’
Bevvy – drink, beverage (very popular to use alcoholic beverages). Fancy a bevvy before we troll to the latty’
Ogles – eyes. ‘He gave me a right dolly ogles across the bar.’
Troll – To walk about. ‘Let’s troll about whilst we drink this bevvy’.
Vogueress – Female smoker. ‘The vogueress lit up another one outside.’
Zhooshy – Showy. ‘That frock’s a bit zhooshy for a Tuesday, don’t you think? ‘
Mince – to walk in a mannered style. ‘Let’s mince about up the street’.
Crimper – hairdresser. ‘I can’t come out tonight, my crimper’s booked solid till Friday.’
Drag – all clothing but especially women’s clothes. ‘She’s got the best drag collection’.
Bijou – small. ‘It’s a bijou little latty, but it’s home.’
Fantabulosa – wonderful/fabulous. ‘That performance was absolutely fantabulosa’.
Slap – makeup. ‘Wait! I’m not leaving the latty without my slap on.’
Stuff – something of important value or importance.
Show your stuff – showcasing one’s best assets or flaunting one’s abilities or possessions. ‘She’s got the stuff to make it in this business.’
Latty – House. ‘Come back to my latty for a bevvy.’
Thought’s and reflections
Any words that stand out or that you like? Maybe some can be used more in your daily conversations than others.
For example, next time something is fabulous, it can instead be ‘fabulousa’. Or if you fancy having a bitch, what better word to use than COD! There are many cod people in this world, that’s for sure!
Does Naff take you back to the noughties? It sure did me! Do you enjoy banter with your hairdresser? Call them Crimper – it reminds me of crumpet!
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