General
omi
What does omi mean?
In Polari, a man. It derives from Italian 'uomo' (man) by way of Parlyaree, the lingo of travelling showpeople.
"There's a bona omi been vadering you all night."
Origin
Polari/Parlyaree of 19th- and 20th-century Britain; 'omi' comes from Italian 'uomo' (man), as recorded in Paul Baker's Polari studies.
Frequently asked questions
What does omi mean?
It is Polari for 'man', from Italian 'uomo'.
What is an omi-palone?
Literally 'man-woman', it was Polari for a gay man.
Where does omi come from?
From Italian 'uomo' via Parlyaree, the travelling-showmen's slang that fed Polari.
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