Gayle, orGail, is anEnglish- andAfrikaans-basedgayargot orslang used primarily by English and Afrikaans-speakinghomosexual men in urban communities ofSouth Africa, and is similar in some respects toPolari in theUnited Kingdom, from which some lexical items have been borrowed. The equivalent language used by gay South African men who speakBantu languages is calledIsiNgqumo, and is based on aNguni lexicon.^[3][4][5]

Gayle originally manifested asmoffietaal (Afrikaans: literally, "homosexual language") in thedrag culture of theCape Coloured community in the 1950s. It permeated into white homosexual circles in the 1960s and became part of mainstream white gay culture.^[3][4][5]

Besides a few core words borrowed from Polari (such as the wordvarda meaning "to see", itself a borrowing fromLingua Franca), most of Gayle's words are alliterative formations using women's names, such asBeulah for "beauty",Priscilla, meaning "police", andHilda for "hideous". Men, especially other homosexual men, are often referred to by female pronouns in some circles, as is the custom among many homosexual countercultures throughout the world.^[3][4][5]

Gayle arose for the same reason that most antilanguages develop, to ensure in-group preference in diverse societies. However it also fulfilled other functions such as to "camp up" conversation, and provide entertainment in a subculture where verbal wit and repartee are highly valued.^[3][4][5]

A comprehensive study of Gayle was undertaken by linguist Ken Cage in 2002, and his Master’s Thesis was published as “Gayle, the language of Kinks and Queens” (2003: Jacana Media). This book, although out of print now, was the first attempt to publish a history of Gayle, as well as a basic dictionary of the argot.

More recently, Gayle has experienced a resurgence and increased popularity following theShowmax series Beaulah: Queens Van die Kaap - a 2024 reality TV show that documents the lives and talents of prominent and upcoming drag queens from the Cape Town drag scene. Gayle has also seen some vitality on Tik Tok.

Varda that Beulah bag! translates to "Look at that beautiful man!"^{[5]: 23–24}

• Lavender linguistics

• LGBTQ culture in South Africa
• LGBTQ slang
• English-based argots
• LGBTQ argots
• 1950s introductions
• 1950s in South Africa
• LGBTQ history in South Africa
• Afrikaans-language culture

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