Pavlova means: A meringue dessert usually topped with fruit and cream.. 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.
pavlova
(chiefly, Australia, and, New Zealand) A meringue dessert usually topped with fruit and cream.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1930 · 1 year of recorded useDefinitions
(chiefly, Australia, and, New Zealand) A meringue dessert usually topped with fruit and cream.
Pavlova means: A meringue dessert usually topped with fruit and cream.. 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.
pavlova means: A meringue dessert usually topped with fruit and cream.. Register: informal, New Zealand 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.
“So that'll be vegies cooked withing an inch of their life overcooked lamb and lumpy mashed potatoes for my family. And a pavlova.... #MasterchefAU”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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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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