Are you pretty familiar with 'pretty'?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341752)
Rockingham, Australia
July 27, 2023 2:48am CST
The image has nothing to do with the discussion but is a night view of Perth, Western Australia, and taken from King's Park. In the foreground is the old Swan Brewery which has now been converted to luxury apartments.
Every country has its idioms and strange speech patterns. Australians use ‘pretty’ quite a lot. I know I use it all the time on here saying things like ‘it was pretty hot’ or ‘I was getting pretty fed up’.
A very quick search seemed to indicate that its use is acceptable although I would have doubted that myself. One site said it means ‘quite, but not extremely’ which sums up its use quite well. It seems to come from Old English and originally meant cunning or crafty.
So, do you use ‘pretty’ in this sense? And if English is your second (or third) language, do you understand its meaning in this context? I'm curious. 
23 people like this
23 responses
@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
27 Jul 23
Pretty to me is cute. Not exceptionally beautiful, just cute.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jul 23
True, slightly under beautiful. @JimBo452020 @RebeccasFarm
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72517)
• Philippines
27 Jul 23
It's either pretty or quite for me. I think they're synonymous.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471981)
• Switzerland
27 Jul 23
@nicegolden My native language is Italian, I lived in France (and spoke French) during 31 years, so English is my third. I also speak Spanish and a little German.
2 people like this
@nicegolden (284)
• Shenzhen, China
27 Jul 23
@LadyDuckwhat I can say? genius,You express so good in English even it's the third language
2 people like this
@allknowing (137553)
• India
28 Jul 23
I am pretty sure I use the word pretty often (lol)
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68884)
• United States
28 Jul 23
Yes, we’ve pretty much adopted pretty as an adjective in America.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137464)
• United States
27 Jul 23
I understand it that way but usually don't use it like that because I call my daughter "Pretty" and can confuse myself... 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jul 23
We use the word here in the US the same way you do. I say “It’s pretty hot today” pretty much all the time.
(See what I did there? Haha)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
31 Jul 23
@JudyEv Well, you got the pretty part right! Haha
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Aug 23
@moffittjc Pity about the rest, eh? lol
1 person likes this
@leighnyork (1880)
•
28 Jul 23
You are correct the Australian do use petty quite frequently in there discussion
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jul 23
It's very common usage here, that's for sure although it seems it's used in other countries too.
@BarBaraPrz (47618)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
27 Jul 23
I'm sure I do use it but would rather use quite.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
27 Jul 23
Yes, In the US we also use pretty a lot. I noticed that people in England say brilliant a lot, not something we do.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Jul 23
I use pretty now and then but more often beautiful or lovely,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181321)
• United States
27 Jul 23
We here in America use pretty in that context all the time. English is my first language.
1 person likes this
