barbie

Word family

• barbecue
  nounB1
• barbecue
  verbB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe outdoor cooking, but they differ in region, formality, and scope. 'Barbie' is the most informal and is almost exclusive to Australian and New Zealand English — you would use it with friends at a weekend gathering, not in a restaurant menu or a formal recipe. 'Barbecue' (or 'BBQ') is the standard term worldwide and works in both casual and formal contexts; it covers the appliance, the cooking method, and the event. 'Cookout' is predominantly American and focuses on the social event rather than the equipment; it often implies a simpler, more casual meal than a barbecue. 'Grill' (noun) in American English specifically means the metal cooking surface or the machine itself — you 'fire up the grill', but you would not call the party a 'grill'. Example: 'We brought snags to the barbie at Bondi Beach' (Australian). 'We're having a cookout in the backyard' (American, event-focused). 'The steaks are on the grill' (American, appliance-focused).

Common collocations

Etymology

A shortened, informal form of 'barbecue', which entered English via Spanish 'barbacoa' from the Taíno language of the Caribbean. The clipped form 'barbie' emerged in Australian English during the mid-20th century as part of the Australian tendency to shorten and add '-ie' or '-y' to common words. It is now one of the most recognizable Australian colloquialisms worldwide.