abo

'Abo' is an old Australian colloquial abbreviation of 'Aboriginal' that is now widely considered a racial slur against Aboriginal Australians and is offensive in current usage. If your child uses it, this is a moment for a calm conversation about why it is hurtful: it dehumanises Aboriginal people and is associated with a long history of racism in Australia. The correct, respectful terms are 'Aboriginal', 'Aboriginal Australian', 'First Nations' or 'Indigenous'. Many people who use 'abo' have heard it from older relatives without realising the harm; education tends to be more effective than punishment.

'Abo' is a derogatory and offensive Australian abbreviation of 'Aboriginal'. Do not use it under any circumstances. The respectful current terms are 'Aboriginal', 'Aboriginal Australian', 'First Nations' or 'Indigenous'. Even when older Australians use it without conscious malice, the word is considered a racial slur and can lead to formal complaints or social consequences. A common learner mistake is to treat any short form of a longer word as harmless; abbreviations of ethnic terms in English are very often offensive. Register: slur, taboo.