Eshay (/ˈɛʃeɪ/) is a slang expression associated with an Australian urban youth subculture that originated from Western Sydney in the late 1980s, but which News Corporation coverage has brought into the mainstream since the late 2010s. In New Zealand, "hoodrats" are a similar subculture.
Well. . . basically, an eshay is the Australian equivalent of the British Chav. Like any subculture, eshays are defined by a set of values, for eshays these include: Outfits: Polo shirts, shorts, trackies, bumbags, speed dealers (90s style sunglasses) and puffer jackets.
The word “eshay” is a Pig Latin derivative of the word sesh or session (an Australian term for hanging out). Eshay is mostly associated with the Australian rap and rambunctious youth scene — or simply, the Australian equivalent of the British chavs.
feminine noun Word forms: Esche genitive , Eschen plural. ash-tree; (= Holz) ash.
(Australia, slang) A member of an Australian youth subculture favouring sportswear and electronic dance music, and commonly associated with criminal activity. (Australia, slang) A delinquent teenager; a chav.
gronk. extremely derogatory term for a person less intelligent than oneself: You're such a gronk.
Eshays can typically be identified by wearing Nike TN trainers with polo shirts, puffer jackets, tracksuit pants or baggy shorts and baseball caps. Their favourite brands include Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Lacoste, paired with Nautica, Adidas, Under Armour and Ellesse.
Basically, Eshay's are those teenagers who primarily wear Nike, adidas, Gucci and Nautica. They spend their spare time tagging trains, scaring geriatrics and smoking billies in storm drains. With a strict uniform and distinct dialect, you shouldn't find it too hard to identify the local Eshays in your neighbourhood.
Eshays are said to have spread from Sydney's inner-city graffiti scene in the 1980s through Housing Commission estates and out into the suburbs. Teens embracing eshay culture had predominantly come from low socioeconomic backgrounds but the movement has also been picked up by private school boys.
Aussie Word of the Week
As one contributor to the Australian Word Map put it, to do a blockie means, 'to go round the block very fast in a usually noisy car, often done by young men on a Saturday night.
Eshay Language
Eshay's use a combination of modified pig Latin and swearing. Common phrases in their slang include illchay, meaning chill or relax; eetswa, meaning sweet or good; and adlay, meaning lad. Other words include ashcay (cash), gronk (an annoying person), and staunching (stealing from someone).
Melbourne's eshay culture: Who are they and what do they do? Many Melburnians may never have heard of eshays before, but if you've spent time at a train station or parking lot, chances are you've run into one. Eshays are part of a subculture that's gripped Australian youth in recent years.
It is defined as "an uncultured and unsophisticated person; a boorish and uncouth person" in the 2016 edition of the Australian National Dictionary.
If you have no clue what an eshay is, I would best describe them as onions. They have layers, and every eshay is different. But to simplify: an eshay is a stereotypical term for an Australian who typically engages in stealing, drug-dealing, and other criminal activity.
It started out as Pig Latin for sesh or session and eventually became so common it just means "cool" now.
Western Australian nightclub bans red shoes
A Perth nightclub has banned red sneakers as the owners claim they are the shoe of choice for troublemakers. Hillary's Bar1 has enforced a blanket ban on red shoes whether they be Air Maxes, TNs or Airforces as the shoes are allegedly a red flag for bad behaviour.
South East Queensland has a number of groups that bear many of the hallmarks of eshay culture, with Brisbane's Northside and Southside gangs having been linked to car theft and break and enters.
But like COVID or any other irritating virus, the youth subculture which is believed to have originated in Sydney's western suburbs has crept its way across the border. Even if you've never heard of an eshay, you've probably seen one.
ripper (not comparable) (Britain, Australia, slang) Very good; excellent; fantastic.
Historians and etymologists are still unsure as to precisely where the term bogan originated. Some research suggests the term originated from specific areas around Melbourne's western suburbs during the 1980s. Others believe it comes from communities living near the Bogan River in rural NSW.
Red Shoes is about hope, passion, support, and love. Red is the colour of the heart, the colour of love.
What does TN mean at Nike, or what does TN stand for? The TN on the Nike Air Max TN stands for Tuned Air. But why does the shoe have two names? It was rebranded by Nike, but this was never officially released.
Drug dealers, graffiti artists, troublemakers, and criminals have always been notoriously associated with the shoe. For most, this purchase would be deemed extravagant. But for individuals with such a disposable income, looking to create a statement for themselves, the TN represented an expression of their lifestyle.
noun Australian. a juvenile delinquent; youthful troublemaker.