Dero means: A homeless person, a tramp; a social derelict, especially an alcoholic.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
dero
(Australia) A homeless person, a tramp; a social derelict, especially an alcoholic.
Definitions
(Australia) A homeless person, a tramp; a social derelict, especially an alcoholic.
Dero means: A homeless person, a tramp; a social derelict, especially an alcoholic.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
dero means: A homeless person, a tramp; a social derelict, especially an alcoholic.. Register: informal, Australian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang
Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.
See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.
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Semantically related
- droob67%
(Australia, slang) An ineffectual or unattractive person; a dag.
- toerag65%
A tramp or vagrant.
- deso65%
(AU, slang) A designated driver.
- delo64%
Australian slang shorthand for a delegate — the person sent to represent a group at a conference, union meeting, or industry event. Like most Aussie abbreviations, it trims the word right down to its essentials and slaps an 'o' on the end. You'll hear it in union halls, trade associations, and conference centres across the country. Casual, efficient, and very Australian.
- deso64%
Australian slang for the designated driver — the person in the group who volunteers (or draws the short straw) to stay sober and drive everyone else home safely after a night of drinking. Short for 'designated driver' via 'desig' to 'deso,' it's a very Australian compression. Being the deso earns you social credit and the eternal gratitude of your mates, even if it means a night of sipping lemonade while everyone else gets loose.