Rakali means: An amphibious rodent, , found throughout Australia, having dark fur and a white-tipped tail; the water rat.. 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.
rakali
(Australia) An amphibious rodent, , found throughout Australia, having dark fur and a white-tipped tail; the water rat.
Definitions
(Australia) An amphibious rodent, , found throughout Australia, having dark fur and a white-tipped tail; the water rat.
Rakali means: An amphibious rodent, , found throughout Australia, having dark fur and a white-tipped tail; the water rat.. 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.
rakali means: An amphibious rodent, , found throughout Australia, having dark fur and a white-tipped tail; the water rat.. 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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Semantically related
- water rat81%
(Australia) A water mouse, especially, the rakali, .
- bush rat70%
The rodent, , of coastal eastern and southern Australia.
- bush rat68%
(Australia) Any of various rat-sized rodents and marsupials, especially local species of .
- water rat65%
(US) Any of various aquatic or semi-aquatic rodents from Florida and southern Georgia, especially ; the muskrat.
- water rat63%
(informal) A European water vole (, formerly ).