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.^[1]

Description

The term can refer to individuals within the subculture, or to the subculture itself, and can have various other meanings in different contexts. The word "eshay" apparently derives from the Pig Latin for "sesh" (meaning drug or cannabis use session). The term "adlay" (/ˈædleɪ/), Pig Latin for "lad," refers to the same subculture.^[2]

Eshays, or lads, are often considered stereotypically hypermasculine and inclined to crime and violence.^[3] However, while most eshays are male, a minority of them are female.^[4] They may be affiliated with other local youths from a postcode,^[5] hang out in groups, use slang derived from Pig Latin,^[2] wear sportswear, have mullets and engage in immature and anti-social behaviour. Common fashion items include bumbags and Nike shoes^[2] (specifically Nike TNs).^[6] Eshays often have access to alcohol, e-cigarettes, illegal drugs, pornography and social media.^[7]

Typical hangout areas for eshays include bus stops, shopping centres,^[8] streets and train stations.^[9][10]

"Gutter rap" (also known as "lad rap" due to its popularity among eshays) is a form of drill rap. Rappers in this genre include Kerser and Onefour.^[11]

See also

• Chav/Roadman, a similar term used to describe young delinquents in Britain
• Gopnik, a similar term used to describe young delinquents in Eastern Europe
• Skeet (Newfoundland), a similar term used on the Canadian island of Newfoundland
• Racaille, a similar term used to describe young delinquents in France.
• Hoon
• Lad culture
• Ah beng
• Ned (Scottish)

References