Wayne’s Word – chook

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone.

If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: #WaynesWord

Today’s word is CHOOK.

I have showcased many of my favourite Northern Irish words so I thought it was time to share one that I hear daily in Australia. Here, a chicken is almost always a chook. You will see it on pub menus (“half a roast chook”) or hear it in everyday chatter about backyard hens laying eggs. However, chook isn’t just about the bird it is Aussie slang too. If someone is “running around like a headless chook,” it means they’re rushing about in a chaotic state.

There’s also the infamous “chooky neck,” made popular by the hit Aussie comedy Kath & Kim. The term describes the loose, wobbly skin under the chin, not exactly flattering, but always said with humour. Kath & Kim, by the way, is an iconic Australian sitcom that lovingly pokes fun at suburban life with plenty of quirky sayings like this one.

Warm, funny, and uniquely Australian, chook is more than a bird, it is a word with real character and one that I have started to use!