Where “Doco” Comes From
“Doco” is a clipped form of “documentary”. Australians shorten many long words by cutting them down and adding “-o”, as in “servo”, “arvo” and “journo”.
It’s used by viewers and by people who work in TV and film.
“There’s a great doco on the ABC tonight.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
Use it in everyday chat about what to watch. You’ll also see it in TV guides and film-festival talk.
In Real Life
In Australia, docos are a staple of the ABC and SBS, and you’ll also find them on streaming services and at film festivals such as the Sydney Film Festival. Australian documentaries cover everything from wildlife to history to sport. The word is also used by people who make them, such as “doco-maker” and “doco crew”. It’s casual, so you’ll use it more in speech than in a formal review.
Quick Questions
How do you say doco?
DOH-koh, with the stress on the first syllable.
Is doco only for TV?
No. It’s used for any documentary, whether it’s on TV, streaming or in the cinema.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: DOH-koh.
In conversation:
- Did you watch the doco last night?
- We’re making a doco about the farm.
- It’s a bit of a long doco, but good.
Good to know: In Australia, “doco” sounds natural for a TV or film documentary. In writing, “documentary” is still the safer word.
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