Sparrow-fart means: A time very early in the day; dawn.. 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.
sparrow-fart
(uncountable, UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) A time very early in the day; dawn.
ˈspɑɹsɔɹftDocumented since 1820sSilenthistorical187 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1828 · no dated citations yet19th centurySee decade cohort →
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
(uncountable, UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) A time very early in the day; dawn.
Origin: From . In the dawn sense, apparently from a UK dialect (Yorkshire) from before 1828. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Sparrow-fart means: A time very early in the day; dawn.. 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
sparrow-fart means: A time very early in the day; dawn.. 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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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
(countable) A person or thing of no consequence.
‘Took a girl to the flicks, had to get her back to Birkenhead, some goon in a tin hat and armband ordered us to take shelter in the Underground. No bloody option. So I didn′t get her home until sparrow-fart and her father didn′t believe …
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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UK
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
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