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imbo

Australian slang for an idiot or fool — a dismissive term for someone acting stupidly.

ˈɪmboʊ178 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
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Australia
#1·Apr 28, 2026AUS

Australian slang for an idiot or fool — a dismissive term for someone acting stupidly. It has the blunt, abbreviated quality of Australian insult slang and is used informally without particular venom. The word may derive from 'imbecile' or 'imbo' as a clipped form, or it may be an independent coinage. It carries a similar weight to 'drongo' or 'dill' in Australian usage.

Don't worry about what that imbo said — he doesn't know what he's talking about.
Origin: Possibly a clipped form of 'imbecile,' or an independent Australian slang formation. Exact origin uncertain. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
Cluster: weed
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Australia
#2·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(Australian, slang) An idiot, a fool.

For parents

Imbo means: An idiot, a fool.. 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.

For ESL learners

imbo means: An idiot, a fool.. 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.

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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.

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