What does yowie mean?
Yowie is chiefly an Australian term for a large, hairy, ape-like monster of the bush. In traditional folklore, yowies are elusive, often dangerous-looking creatures that inhabit remote wilderness and may surprise or frighten people who encounter them. The word also became prominent in modern reports of supposed cryptid sightings, especially in the Australian outback, although no such creature has been conclusively identified. In informal Australian speech, “yowie” can also refer to a large, hairy or rough-looking person, usually with a comic or disparaging tone. Contemporary use often combines these meanings, making yowie a useful word for discussions of Australian folklore, unexplained sightings and humorous invented monsters. Its distinctive cultural setting separates it from the Himalayan yeti, even though both are imagined as enormous, shaggy creatures of the wild.
nounA large, hairy, ape-like monster of Australian folklore, also used for an alleged wild humanoid or ape-like creature reported in remote areas.
- A large, hairy, ape-like or manlike monster of Australian folklore.
- An alleged ape-like or wild humanoid creature reportedly sighted in remote parts of Australia.
- In informal Australian usage, a large, hairy or rough-looking person.
"The old miner claimed that a yowie had been watching his camp."
"A bush storyteller warned the children that a yowie might be watching them from the trees."
"Expeditions have investigated reports of a yowie said to inhabit the remote Queensland bush."
The standard plural refers to legendary creatures or to multiple reported creatures.
"The villagers spoke of yowies lurking beyond the ridge."
The yowie turns the Australian bush into folklore’s great hairy frontier.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of yowie
Yowie entered English in connection with Australian folklore during the early twentieth century. The word ultimately comes from an Aboriginal Australian language, but its precise linguistic source and original form are not securely established, so a more exact attribution would be speculative. It was subsequently applied both to the legendary bush creature and to alleged sightings of an unknown ape-like animal.
How yowie is actually used
The legendary-creature senses range from sincere folklore and cryptid discussion to humorous or deliberately spooky usage. The sense meaning a large, hairy or rough-looking person is informal and Australian; depending on context, it may sound comic, teasing, or derogatory.
Easily confused with yowie
A yowie belongs to Australian bush folklore, whereas a yeti is the creature of Himalayan folklore.