Whalebird means: Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially and .. 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.
whalebird
Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially (the blue petrel) and .
Definitions
Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially (the blue petrel) and .
Whalebird means: Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially and .. 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.
whalebird means: Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially and .. Register: neutral, standard English. 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. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
Comments
(Australia) The sooty tern.
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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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🇦🇺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.
See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.
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Semantically related
- pelican58%
Any of various seabirds of the family , having a long bill with a distendable pouch.
- gooney bird57%
Any of several albatrosses, especially the black-footed albatross () and the Laysan albatross, that dwell primarily on islands in the Pacific Ocean, often near naval bases.
- whaler57%
(nautical) A seagoing vessel used for hunting whales.
- storm-bird56%
The storm petrel.