Slangora

wonky hole

(Australia) A type of undersea hole or spring on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, out of which emanates fresh water that has flowed underground from the land.

ˈwʌŋki ˈhoʊl165 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
1 definition
Community

Definitions

Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(Australia) A type of undersea hole or spring on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, out of which emanates fresh water that has flowed underground from the land.

It was local fishermen who made the most startling seafloor discovery. Something unknown was snagging their nets and nearly capsizing their boats. And they called the mystery – wonky holes. — Australian Broadcasting Commissio…
Origin: From . Named by the local fishermen who first encountered them (see quotation below). Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"wonky hole" means: A type of undersea hole or spring on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, out of which emanates fresh water that has flowed underground from.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"wonky hole" means: A type of undersea hole or spring on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, out of which emanates fresh water that has flowed underground from.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Cluster: excellent
Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

"wonky hole" means: A type of undersea hole or spring on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, out of which emanates fresh water that has flowed underground from.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

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.

Used in

Australia

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "wonky hole".

Add definition

🇦🇺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.

Tags

Other words near "wonky hole" (W)

Browse all slang words starting with W.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related