Dinkum means: Genuine, true, honest, on the level.. It is mainly New Zealand 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.
dinkum
(Australia, New Zealand, slang) Genuine, true, honest, on the level.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1879 · no dated citations yet19th centurySee decade cohort →
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(Australia, New Zealand, slang) Genuine, true, honest, on the level.
Hon. Sir Ross McLarty: We were always dinkum.Mr. MAY: The ultimate result showed how dinkum the hon. member was.
Origin: . Earliest recorded use in the phrase fair dinkum in 1879, from Australia. Also recorded (slightly later) from Derbyshire and Lincolnshire dialect. Perhaps related to Gloucestershire dialect to work hard. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Dinkum means: Genuine, true, honest, on the level.. It is mainly New Zealand 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.
For ESL learners
dinkum means: Genuine, true, honest, on the level.. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. 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.
Cluster: authentic
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(Australia, New Zealand, slang, dated) Truth.
You look real jockey — thats' the dinkum.
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#3·Apr 27, 2026
(Australia, New Zealand, slang, rare, obsolete) Hard work.
You look real jockey — thats' the dinkum.
Cluster: general
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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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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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Other words near "dinkum" (D)
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