Word
sheila
Phoneticssheila
US/ˈʃiɫə/
UK/ʃˈiːlɐ/
Definition
n. a casual word for a woman.
n. A slang term for a woman, characteristic of Australian and New Zealand English.
Examples
“Sheila is coming to the party tonight.”
“My grandmother often calls her female friends Sheila, even though they are not named that.”
Examples
simple
“Sheila is coming to the party tonight.”
contextual
“My grandmother often calls her female friends Sheila, even though they are not named that.”
Usage
Commonly used with the definite or indefinite article.
Teaching tip
This term is often seen as a stereotype of Australian English. While once common, many modern Australians find it dated or slightly disrespectful, so learners should use it with caution.
Real-World Examples
“Bamber, aged 65, was convicted of murdering his adoptive mother and father, his stepsister Sheila Caffell and her twin six-year-old boys.” Etymology
Anglicized spelling of Irish Síle, equivalent to Cecilia. Doublet of Cecilia.
From Hindi शीला (śīlā), from Sanskrit शील (śīla, “character, good conduct”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/sheila