AUSSIE SLANG
Words and Phrases
Introduction 		Swagman Logo
Dinky-di Aussie Swagman


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American English vs. Aussie English
A Personal Perspective

G'day, Mates! As an American arriving in Australia less than a year ago, I was amazed at the differences between the English language spoken in this land "down under" and the English I have learned to speak in the USA. Besides the obvious Aussie accent and the rapidity of speech that is common here, there are numerous words and pronunciations unfamiliar to us Americans. They include words and phrases with various origins and forms of abbreviation.

British spellings and pronunciations:
Examples of spelling: color/colour, stabilize/stabilise, aluminum/aluminium.
Examples of pronunciation: tomato("tomahto"), process ("prohcess"), semester ("semestah").

Many common, multi-syllable words that are abbreviated to the first syllable+"ie" or "y" or just shortened to one or two short syllables:
Examples of "ie/y" words: Christmas/Chrissie or Chrissy, small children/littlies, sweatsuit or tracksuit/trackkies, breakfast/brekkie.
Examples of shortened words (often ending in "o"): aggro/aggravate or aggressive, doco/documentary, garbo/garbage collector, servo/service station or gas station, crims/criminals, uni/university.

Most words spelled with a double "s" are pronounced as if they were spelled with a double "z":
Examples: mosquito/mossie, Australian/Aussie, presents/pressies or prezzies (but not Chrissy, the abbreviated form of Christmas).

Many phrases are reduced to just their first letters (acronym):
Examples: Independence Day (July 4)/ID4.

Colloquialisms of British, Aboriginal, or Australian origin are so common as to form an almost complete language by themselves:
Examples: moggie (cat), dinky-di (someone who is reliable, honest, genuine and true), sanger (sandwich), billabong (naturally damned body of water), nick (steal).

Then there are all the wonderful Aussie phrases that never cease to amaze me:
Examples: "spat the dummy"/throw a tantrum, "you've got Buckleys"/you have no chance at all, he or she has "kangaroos in the top paddock"/someone who is mentally unbalanced or crazy.

Sometimes I think that I am learning an entirely new language. My grocery list has started to look like this:

  • Serviettes (napkins)
  • Disso (disinfectant cleaner)
  • Prawns (shrimp)
  • Marge (margarine)
  • Bickies (cookies)
  • Biscuits (crackers)
  • Lollies (candy, including chocolate candy)
  • Crisps (potato chips)
  • Rock Melon (cantaloupe)
  • Capsicum (Sweet Green Pepper)
  • Tomato Sauce (ketchup)

Are you confused yet? If you aren't, you are doing far better than I did in the beginning. Fortunately, my family, like most Aussies, has seen so many American television shows and movies, that they understand me most of the time when I talk "American." I am gradually learning to use more Aussie terminology, but I guess I will never really blend in with the natives so long as I speak with an American accent.

I have been so fascinated by the language differences between the two countries that I decided to compile a glossary of Aussie terms, slang, and phrases. Rob and I have worked on it together. I will add to the list as more Aussie words and phrases emerge in our conversations. In addition, each month I will select a topic on which to focus, so all of you Crocodile Dundee wannabes (no, not wallabies) can learn to speak dinky-di Aussie slang, fair dink! This monthly "special" will be contained in a box immediately following this text, starting in April. I hope you all enjoy this section of my page and learn along with me. Ta!

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A, B, C, D-E, F, G, H-I, J, K, L, M,
N-0, P, Q-R, S, T-U-V, W-X-Y-Z, Phrases


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Special Focus
September 2000 - "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie"
June 1999 - "The Jolly Swagman"
May 1999 - "The Bush, The Outback"
April 1999 - "Waltzing Matilda"

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Chris Townsend, Sarcoid Connection
cmtown@excite.com
Last Modified September 9, 2002