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sarvey


this afternoon: I will go shopping the sarvey; I'll be there the sarvey. Compare arftie, arvo1, sarvo. Also, sarvie.

Editor's comments: Since the term is more commonly said than spelt two alternate forms have arisen. You can either spell it "This arvie" (where the derivation from "afternoon" is preserved), or "The sarvie" (in which the "s" has moved onto the next word through a process linguists call metanalysis). The same happens with "arvo" (either "This arvo" or "The sarvo"). Spelling aside, is there any regional variation between "arvo" versus "arvie" (or, if you like, "sarvo" versus "sarvie")?

Contributor's comments: [Brisbane informant] Your word spotter has got the transliteration wrong. It's "this arvey" (short for "afternoon"), not "the sarvey"!

Contributor's comments: "The sarvey" is also used in Sydney.

Contributor's comments: [ACT informant] I have never seen this written before and always thought it was 'this arvey'

Contributor's comments: In South Australia the term "this arftie" is used instead of arvo.

Contributor's comments: My mother, as a teacher in northern SA in the 1950s, was once asked by a student "How do you spell 'smorning', like in 'the smorning I had weetbix for breakfast'".

Contributor's comments: Growing up in Sydney we used "th' sarvo". I have not heard "the sarvie".

Contributor's comments: I am a grade 5 teacher in Brisbane and every year students write in their diaries, "The safternoon" and "the smorning". It is something they really don't realise until you teach them.