Comments on: “Fair Dinkum” Explored: Meaning and Origination

By: Daniel Mannix

Daniel Mannix — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 11:57:28 +0000

In reply to IAN. There were chinese gold miners all over the world, especially the US.

By: Awni H

Awni H — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 18:33:40 +0000

Just heard on NatGeo People it originated in Australia’s gold mines by Chinese laborers. Comes from two Chinese words Ding and Kum which mean real and gold respectively.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 11:00:00 +0000

In reply to Gerry. Spot on.

By: John McPherson

John McPherson — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 01:45:58 +0000

In reply to Gerry. I am glad someone on this thread got it right - well done Gerry.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 23:50:01 +0000

Dinkum meaning ‘honest work’ was being used in the Midlands, England in the 1800’s, a derivative of fair ‘days income’

By: Nora

Nora — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:48:17 +0000

In reply to Liam. LOL Liam! I can see how that would happen! ;-)

By: Liam

Liam — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 18:00:16 +0000

I always thought they were saying fair’d income

By: Interlocutor

Interlocutor — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 23:08:12 +0000

Gerry, that folk etymology isn’t correct. Dinkum/dincum meaning “honest work” was being used in England in the 19th century, and appears in print there before it does in Australia.

You may see this discussed in the wikipedia entry for Australian slang (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_English_vocabulary)
“It originated with a now-extinct dialect word from the East Midlands in England, where dinkum (or dincum) meant “hard work” or “fair work”, which was also the original meaning in Australian English.” This reference is from the Australian National University (http://web.archive.org/web/20020511010247/http://www.anu.edu.au/ANDC/Ozwords/November_98/7._dinkum.htm).

Also similar discussion here:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fair-dinkum.html

By: Gerry

Gerry — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:26:48 +0000

You clowns are heartbreaking. Din gum in chineese means good gold.
Fair din gum was a question they asked to see how much gold had been found in an area. That’s all there is to it. Don’t be coming up with theories as it is what it is already. The bar thing and fair drinking is the silliest shit I’ve heard and the Latin……Veras…..clutching at fucking straws mate. You have me ganging hoarded than a funnel web here. Way to make something working class Aussies say sound arrogant

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 17:34:22 +0000

In reply to Kevin.

Hi Kevin – I’m glad I’m not the only one who was a bit stumped by “fair dinkum”! Do you have an idea as to how the meaning and use of the phrase is changing?