Animals, plants & weatherMyths & disputes

budgerigar

The budgie's name probably comes from Gamilaraay gijirrigaa, with its first syllable changed for reasons no one has explained; the popular story that it means 'good bird' or 'good eating' is long discounted. Most other languages renamed the bird, but budgerigar went back to Britain with the pet trade.

Weakest linkPossible

The story you may have heard

That budgerigar means 'good bird' or 'good eating', from Aboriginal pidgin budgeree 'good' + gar 'cockatoo'. Dictionaries now prefer the Gamilaraay word; the 'good' story persists.

The road to English

From Australian English to Australian English

1840Gamilaraay

Hops are evenly spaced; labels show the year each form is first attested.

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