bona nochy
Polari for 'good night' — a warm farewell from the secret argot once used by gay men, circus performers, and theatrical types in Britain, particularly from the 19th century through the 1960s.
Definitions
Polari for 'good night' — a warm farewell from the secret argot once used by gay men, circus performers, and theatrical types in Britain, particularly from the 19th century through the 1960s. 'Bona' means good (from Italian/Romani) and 'nochy' comes from Spanish 'noche' (night). Polari provided coded cover when being gay was illegal in Britain; saying bona nochy to someone in the know was both a greeting and an act of quiet solidarity. The language enjoyed a revival through the BBC radio comedy Round the Horne.
He winked at the barman and said bona nochy as he headed for the door, and the barman smiled back.
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(Polari) Good night.
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Semantically related
- bona79%
(Polari) Good.
- bona vardering74%
From Polari — the secret slang used by gay men, circus performers, and street traders in Britain before decriminalization — 'bona vardering' means finding someone attractive or good-looking. 'Bona' means good or nice, and 'vardering' comes from the Italian 'vedere' (to see), so the phrase literally evokes appreciating someone with your eyes. It carries the coded warmth of a community that had to hide its language.
- bona71%
(Polari) Well.
- bona omi67%
(Polari) A beautiful man; a handsome man.