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Australian English Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language and ''de facto'' national language. While Australia has no of ...
is a major variety of the
English language English is a West Germanic language that developed in early medieval England and has since become a English as a lingua franca, global lingua franca. The namesake of the language is the Angles (tribe), Angles, one of the Germanic peoples th ...
spoken throughout
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. Most of the vocabulary of Australian English is shared with
British English British English is the set of Variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United Kingdom, especially Great Britain. More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in England, or, more broadly, to ...
, though there are notable differences. The vocabulary of Australia is drawn from many sources, including various dialects of British English as well as
Gaelic languages The Goidelic ( ) or Gaelic languages (; ; ) form one of the two groups of Insular Celtic languages, the other being the Brittonic languages. Goidelic languages historically formed a dialect continuum stretching from Ireland through the Isle o ...
, some
Indigenous Australian languages The Indigenous languages of Australia number in the hundreds, the precise number being quite uncertain, although there is a range of estimates from a minimum of around 250 (using the technical definition of 'language' as non-mutually intellig ...
, and
Polynesian languages The Polynesian languages form a genealogical group of languages, itself part of the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family. There are 38 Polynesian languages, representing 7 percent of the 522 Oceanic languages, and 3 percent of the Austr ...
. One of the first dictionaries of Australian slang was Karl Lentzner's ''Dictionary of the Slang-English of Australia and of Some Mixed Languages'' in 1892. The first dictionary based on historical principles that covered Australian English was E. E. Morris's ''Austral English: A Dictionary of Australasian Words, Phrases and Usages'' (1898). In 1981, the more comprehensive ''Macquarie Dictionary of Australian English'' was published. Oxford University Press published the ''
Australian Oxford Dictionary The ''Australian Oxford Dictionary'', sometimes abbreviated as ''AOD'', is a dictionary of Australian English published by Oxford University Press.Warden, Ian "Some Balltearers For The Scrabble Board" 27 October 1999 Canberra Times P7 The ''AOD' ...
'' in 1999, in concert with the
Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public university, public research university and member of the Group of Eight (Australian universities), Group of Eight, located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton, A ...
. Oxford University Press also published ''
The Australian National Dictionary ''The Australian National Dictionary: Australian Words and Their Origins'' is a historical dictionary of Australian English, recording 16,000 words, phrases, and meanings of Australian origin and use. The first edition of the dictionary, edited ...
''. Broad and colourful Australian English has been popularised over the years by 'larrikin' characters created by Australian performers such as Chips Rafferty, John Meillon, Paul Hogan, Barry Humphries, Greig Pickhaver and John Doyle, Michael Caton, Steve Irwin, Jane Turner and Gina Riley. It has been claimed that, in recent times, the popularity of the Barry McKenzie character, played on screen by Barry Crocker, and in particular of the soap opera ''
Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...
'', led to a "huge shift in the attitude towards Australian English in the UK", with such phrases as "chunder", "liquid laugh" and "technicolour yawn" all becoming well known as a result.


Words of Australian origin

The origins of some of the words are disputed. *'' Battler'' – a person with few natural advantages, who works doggedly and with little reward, who struggles for a livelihood and who displays courage. The first citation for this comes from
Henry Lawson Henry Archibald Hertzberg Lawson (17 June 1867 – 2 September 1922) was an Australian writer and bush poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period ...
in While the Billy Boils (1896): "I sat on him pretty hard for his pretensions, and paid him out for all the patronage he'd worked off on me... and told him never to pretend to me again he was a battler". * ''Bludger'' – a person who avoids working, or doing their share of work, a loafer, scrounger, a hanger-on, one who does not pull his weight; originally, a pimp. * ''
Bogan Bogan ( ) is Australian and New Zealand slang to describe a person whose speech, clothing, behaviour, or attitudes are considered unrefined or unsophisticated. Depending on the context, the term can be used pejoratively or in a humorous, self- ...
'' – an Australian term for describing someone who may be a
yobbo Yob is slang in the United Kingdom for a loutish, uncultured person. In Australian slang, the word yobbo is more frequently used, with a similar although slightly less negative meaning. Etymology The word itself is a product of back slang, a proce ...
(
redneck ''Redneck'' is a derogatory term mainly applied to white Americans perceived to be crass and unsophisticated, closely associated with rural whites of the southern United States.Harold Wentworth, and Stuart Berg Flexner, ''Dictionary of American ...
). The major difference between the two is that yobbo tends to be used as a noun, whereas bogan can also be used adjectivally to describe objects pertaining to people who are bogans. Regional variations include "Bevan" in and around
Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
, and "Booner" around
Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
. It's usually an uncultured person with vulgar behavior, speech, clothing, etc. * ''Cooker'' – a derogatory term for
conspiracy theorist A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy (generally by powerful sinister groups, often political in motivation), when other explanations are more probable.Additional sources: * ...
; according to the
National Dictionary Centre ''The Australian National Dictionary: Australian Words and Their Origins'' is a historical dictionary of Australian English, recording 16,000 words, phrases, and meanings of Australian origin and use. The first edition of the dictionary, edited b ...
, "a derogatory term for a person involved in protests against vaccine mandates, government lockdowns and a range of other issues perceived to be infringing on personal freedom". Emerging during the
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia was a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case in Aust ...
, the word made the
shortlist A short list or shortlist is a list of candidates for a job, prize, award, political position, etc., that has been reduced from a longer list of candidates (sometimes via intermediate lists known as "long lists"). The length of short lists varie ...
for "Word of the Year" in 2022. The term is also loosely associated with the
far right Far-right politics, often termed right-wing extremism, encompasses a range of ideologies that are marked by ultraconservatism, authoritarianism, ultranationalism, and Nativism (politics), nativism. This political spectrum situates itself on ...
. An explanation of the term given by an Australian in answer to a question on
Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
is that "It refers to soneone(sic) whose brain has been cooked by overexposure to conspiracy theories and unhinged online rhetoric". * ''
Didgeridoo The didgeridoo (;()), also spelt didjeridu, among other variants, is a wind instrument, played with vibrating lips to produce a continuous Drone (music), drone while using a special breathing technique called circular breathing. The didgerido ...
'' is a wind instrument that was originally found only in
Arnhem Land Arnhem Land is a historical region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around from the territorial capital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin. In 1623, Dutch East India Compa ...
in northern Australia. It is a long, wooden, tubular instrument that produces a low-pitched, resonant sound with complex, rhythmic patterns but little tonal variation. * Digger – an Australian soldier. The term was applied during the First World War to Australian and New Zealand soldiers because so much of their time was spent digging trenches. An earlier Australian sense of digger was "a miner digging for gold".
Billy Hughes William Morris Hughes (25 September 1862 – 28 October 1952) was an Australian politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923. He led the nation during World War I, and his influence on national politics s ...
, prime minister during the First World War, was known as the Little Digger. First recorded in this sense 1916. * ''Dinkum'' or ''fair dinkum'' – "true", "the truth", "speaking the truth", "authentic" and related meanings, depending on context and inflection. The Evening News (Sydney, NSW) 23 August 1879 has one of the earliest references to ''fair dinkum''. It originated with a now-extinct dialect word from the
East Midlands The East Midlands is one of nine official regions of England. It comprises the eastern half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It consists of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (except for North Lincolnshire and North East ...
in England, where ''dinkum'' (or ''dincum'') meant "hard work" or "fair work", which was also the original meaning in Australian English. * ''Dunny'' – a privy, toilet or lavatory (from British ''dunnekin''). To many Australians "bathroom" is a room with a bath or shower. * ''Fair go'' – a reasonable chance, a fair deal. Australia often sees itself as an egalitarian society, the land of the fair go, where all citizens have a right to fair treatment. * ''Grogan'' - the product of a bowel movement. * '' Jackaroo'' – a type of agricultural worker. * ''Nasho'' (plural ''nashos'') – a person undergoing
National Service National service is a system of compulsory or voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act ...
, mandatory military service in Australia. The word is often used for
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
soldiers when conscription became controversial. Since that time, conscription has not been implemented in Australia. * ''Nork'' – a female breast (usually in plural); etymology disputed, but has been linked to Norco, a NSW milk company. * ''
Outback The Outback is a remote, vast, sparsely populated area of Australia. The Outback is more remote than Australian bush, the bush. While often envisaged as being arid, the Outback regions extend from the northern to southern Australian coastli ...
'' – a "remote, sparsely-populated area".


Words of Australian Aboriginal origin

Some elements of Aboriginal languages have been incorporated into
Australian English Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language and ''de facto'' national language. While Australia has no of ...
, mainly as names for flora and fauna (for example
koala The koala (''Phascolarctos cinereus''), sometimes inaccurately called the koala bear, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia. It is the only Extant taxon, extant representative of the Family (biology), family ''Phascolar ...
,
dingo The dingo (either included in the species ''Canis familiaris'', or considered one of the following independent taxa: ''Canis familiaris dingo'', ''Canis dingo'', or ''Canis lupus dingo'') is an ancient (basal (phylogenetics), basal) lineage ...
,
kangaroo Kangaroos are marsupials from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning "large foot"). In common use, the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, the red kangaroo, as well as the antilopine kangaroo, eastern gre ...
). Some examples are '' cooee'' and ''yakka''. The former is a high-pitched call () which travels long distances and is used to attract attention, which has been derived from
Dharug The Dharug or Darug people, are a nation of Aboriginal Australian clans, who share ties of kinship, country and culture. In pre-colonial times, they lived as hunters in the region of current day Sydney. The Darug speak one of two dialects o ...
, an Aboriginal language spoken in the Sydney region. ''Cooee'' has also become a notional distance: ''if he's within cooee, we'll spot him''. ''Yakka'' means work, strenuous labour, and comes from 'yaga' meaning 'work' in the Yagara indigenous language of the Brisbane region. Yakka found its way into nineteenth-century Australian pidgin, and then passed into Australian English. First recorded 1847. ''
Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool typically constructed with airfoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight, designed to return to the thrower. The origin of the word is from Australian Aborigin ...
'' is an Australian word which has moved into International English. It was also borrowed from
Dharug The Dharug or Darug people, are a nation of Aboriginal Australian clans, who share ties of kinship, country and culture. In pre-colonial times, they lived as hunters in the region of current day Sydney. The Darug speak one of two dialects o ...
.


Words of British, Irish or American origin

Many such words, phrases or usages originated with British and Irish settlers to Australia from the 1780s until the present. For example: a '' creek'' in Australia (as in
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
), is any "
stream A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a strea ...
or small
river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
", whereas in England it is a small watercourse flowing into the
sea A sea is a large body of salt water. There are particular seas and the sea. The sea commonly refers to the ocean, the interconnected body of seawaters that spans most of Earth. Particular seas are either marginal seas, second-order section ...
; ''paddock'' is the Australian word for "
field Field may refer to: Expanses of open ground * Field (agriculture), an area of land used for agricultural purposes * Airfield, an aerodrome that lacks the infrastructure of an airport * Battlefield * Lawn, an area of mowed grass * Meadow, a grass ...
", while in England it is a small enclosure for
livestock Livestock are the Domestication, domesticated animals that are raised in an Agriculture, agricultural setting to provide labour and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, Egg as food, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The t ...
. '' Bush'' (as in North America) or ''scrub'' means "wooded areas" or "country areas in general" in Australia, while in England they are commonly used only in proper names (such as
Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Bush is a suburb of West London, England, within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham west of Charing Cross, and identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Plan. Although primarily residential in character, its ...
and
Wormwood Scrubs Wormwood Scrubs, known locally as The Scrubs (or simply Scrubs), is an open space in Old Oak Common located in the north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London. It is the largest open space in the borough ...
). Australian English and several
British English British English is the set of Variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United Kingdom, especially Great Britain. More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in England, or, more broadly, to ...
dialects (e.g.,
Cockney Cockney is a dialect of the English language, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by Londoners with working-class and lower middle class roots. The term ''Cockney'' is also used as a demonym for a person from the East End, ...
,
Scouse Scouse ( ), more formally known as Liverpool English or Merseyside English, is an Accent (dialect), accent and dialect of English language, English associated with the city of Liverpool and the surrounding Merseyside. The Scouse accent is h ...
,
Geordie Geordie ( ), sometimes known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English, is an English dialect and accent spoken in the Tyneside area of North East England. It developed as a variety of the old Northumbrian dialect and became espe ...
) use the word ''
mate Mate may refer to: Science * Mate, one of a pair of animals involved in: ** Mate choice, intersexual selection *** Mate choice in humans ** Mating * Multi-antimicrobial extrusion protein, or MATE, an efflux transporter family of proteins Pers ...
'' to mean a friend, rather than the conventional meaning of "a spouse", although this usage has also become common in some other varieties of English. * ''Billy'' – a tin or enamel cooking pot with a lid and wire handle, used outdoors, especially for making tea. It comes from the Scottish dialect word billy meaning "cooking utensil". * ''Fair dinkum'' – reliable; genuine; honest; true, comes from British dialect. The phrase is recorded in a north
Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...
dialect for the first time meaning "fair play" or "fair dealing", although "dinkum" on its own had been used in
Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire to the north, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south-east, Staffordshire to the south a ...
and Lincolnshire, meaning "work" or "punishment". "Fair dinkum" was first used in England in 1881, and is the equivalent of
West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...
"fair doos". The word "dinkum" is first recorded in Australia in the 1890s. * ''G'day'' – a greeting, meaning "good day". * ''Manchester'' (frequently lower-case) – household linen (sheets, pillow cases etc.), as in "manchester department" of a department store. From "Manchester wares" with exactly the same meaning. * '' Sheila'' – slang for "woman", derived from the feminine Irish given name
Síle Síle is a feminine Irish language given name, from which the anglicised form Sheila is derived. Bearers of the name * Síle Ní Mathgamna, died 1473. * Síle Ní Siurtáin, died 1485. * Síle Níc Ceallaigh, died 1486. * Síle Níc Carthaigh, di ...
(), commonly anglicised Sheila). * ''Yobbo'' – an Australian variation on the UK slang yob, meaning someone who is loud, rude and obnoxious, behaves badly, anti-social, and frequently drunk (and prefixed by "drunken").


Rhyming slang

Rhyming slang is more common in older generations though modern examples exist amongst some social groupings. It is similar, and in some cases identical, to
Cockney rhyming slang Rhyming slang is a form of slang word construction in the English language. It is especially prevalent among Cockneys in England, and was first used in the early 19th century in the East End of London; hence its alternative name, Cockney rhymi ...
, for example ''plates'' (of meat) for "feet" and ''china'' (plate) for "mate". Some specifically Australian examples are ''dead horse'' for "sauce", ''Jack Holt'' for "salt" (one famous Jack Holt was a horse trainer, another a boxing promoter), ''Barry Crocker'' for "shocker" ( Crocker is a well-known entertainer). as well as '' do a Harold Holt'' meaning "to do a bolt" (
Harold Holt Harold Edward Holt (5 August 190817 December 1967) was an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the 17th prime minister of Australia from 1966 until Disappearance of Harold Holt, his disappearance and presumed death in 1967. He held o ...
being a former Prime Minister who disappeared whilst swimming at sea, giving a double meaning to the term). ''Chunder'' for "vomit" most likely comes from ''Chunder Loo'' = "spew" ("Chunder Loo of Akim Foo" was a
Norman Lindsay Norman Alfred William Lindsay (22 February 1879 – 21 November 1969) was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, art critic, novelist, cartoonist and amateur boxing, boxer. One of the most prolific and popular Australian artists of hi ...
character; " spew" is synonym for "vomit"). See.


Diminutives and abbreviations

Australian English vocabulary draws heavily on
diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle s ...
s and abbreviations. These may be confusing to foreign speakers when they are used in everyday conversations. There are over 5,000 identified diminutives in use. While other English dialects use diminutives in a similar way, none are so prolific or diverse. A large number of these are widely recognised and used by Australian English speakers. However, many are used only by specific demographic groups or in localised areas. Researchers are now beginning to study what psychological motivations cause Australians to abbreviate so many words.


Colloquial phrases

Numerous idiomatic phrases occur in Australian usage, some more historical than contemporary in usage. Send her down, Hughie is an example of surfie slang.
Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the pre-eminent professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. It was originally named the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition ...
spectators use the term "white maggot" (derived from their formerly white uniforms) towards
umpires An umpire is an official in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection. The term derives from the Old French , , and , : (as evidenced in cricke ...
at games.


Alcohol

''Amber'' is generic term for any beer (lager/stout/ale) in general, but especially cold and on-tap. Not only has there been a wide variety of measures in which
beer Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grain—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The grain is mashed to convert starch in the ...
is served in
pub A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the late 17th century, to differentiate private ho ...
s in Australia, the names of these glasses differ from one area to another. However, the range of glasses has declined greatly in recent years.


Pre-decimal currency

Before
decimalisation Decimalisation or decimalization (see American and British English spelling differences, spelling differences) is the conversion of a system of currency or of weights and measures to units related by Power of 10, powers of 10. Most countries have ...
, Australian monetary units closely reflected British usage: four farthings (obsolete by 1945) or two halfpence to a penny; 12 pence to a shilling; 20 shillings to a pound, but terms for the coinage were uniquely Australian, particularly among working-class adult males: "Brown": a penny (1d.); "Tray": threepence (3d.); "Zac": sixpence (6d.); "Bob" or "Deener": a shilling (1s.); "Two bob bit": a florin (2s.) ("Bob" and "Two bob bit" are also British usage.) Slang terms for notes mostly followed British usage: "Ten bob note": ten shillings (10s.); "Quid" (or "fiddly did"): pound note (£1); "Fiver": five pound note (£5); "Tenner" or "Brick": ten pound note (£10). Other terms have been recorded but rarely used outside the racetrack. One confusing matter is that five shillings prior to decimal currency was called a "Dollar", in reference to the Spanish Dollar and "Holey Dollar" which circulated at a value of five shillings, but the
Australian Dollar The Australian dollar (currency sign, sign: $; ISO 4217, code: AUD; also abbreviated A$ or sometimes AU$ to distinguish it from other dollar, dollar-denominated currencies; and also referred to as the dollar or Aussie dollar) is the official ...
at the introduction of decimal currency was fixed at 10 shillings.


Sport


Football

Australia has four major codes of football,
rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...
,
rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
,
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...
, and
association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
. Generally, rugby league is called football in New South Wales and Queensland, while rugby union is called either rugby or union throughout. Both rugby league and rugby union are often collectively referred to as rugby in other states where Australian rules football is called football. Australian rules football is commonly referred to as "Aussie Rules" throughout Australia, but may also in Victoria and South Australia be loosely called "footy" outside the context of the
Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the pre-eminent professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. It was originally named the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was founded in 1896 as a breakaway competition ...
. Association football was long known as "soccer" in Australia and that naming convention still persists among many Australians. In 2005, the governing body changed its name to
Football Federation Australia Football Australia is the governing body of soccer, futsal, and beach soccer within Australia, headquartered in Sydney. Although the first governing body of the sport was founded in 1911, Football Australia in its current form was only establ ...
. Association Football in Australia is called "football'" only when mentioned in conjunction with a specific league, such as the A-League or Premier League, otherwise "football" on its own means either Australian football or rugby on its own depending on the region of Australia.


Horse racing

''Bookie'' is, in Australia as elsewhere, a common term for an on-course bookmaker, but "metallician" was once a (semi-humorous or mock-intellectual) common synonym.


Comparison with other varieties

Where British and American vocabulary differs, Australians sometimes favour a usage different from both varieties, as with footpath (for US sidewalk, UK pavement), capsicum (for US bell pepper, UK green/red pepper), or doona (for US
comforter A comforter (in American English), also known as a doona in Australian English, or a continental quilt (or simply quilt) or duvet in British English, is a type of bedding made of two lengths of fabric or covering sewn together and filled with in ...
, UK
duvet A duvet ( , ; ), usually called a comforter or (''down-filled'') quilt in American English, and a doona in Australian English, is a type of bedding consisting of a soft flat bag filled with down feather, down, feathers, wool, cotton, silk, o ...
) from a trademarked brand. In other instances, it either shares a term with American English, as with
truck A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport freight, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construct ...
(UK: lorry) or
eggplant Eggplant (American English, US, Canadian English, CA, Australian English, AU, Philippine English, PH), aubergine (British English, UK, Hiberno English, IE, New Zealand English, NZ), brinjal (Indian English, IN, Singapore English, SG, Malays ...
(UK: aubergine), or with British English, as with
mobile phone A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This rad ...
(US: cell phone) or bonnet (US: hood). Terms shared by British and American English but not so commonly found in Australian English include (Australian usage in bold): ''abroad'' (overseas); ''cooler/ice box'' (
Esky Esky is a brand of portable coolers, originally Australian, derived from the word "Eskimo". The term "esky" is also commonly used in Australia to Generic trademark, generically refer to portable coolers or ice boxes and is part of the Australi ...
); ''flip-flops'' ( thongs); ''pickup truck'' (
ute Ute or UTE may refer to: * Ute people, a Native American people of the Great Basin * Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah * Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah * Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern ...
); ''wildfire'' (
bushfire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of Combustibility and flammability, combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a ...
). Australian English is particularly divergent from other varieties with respect to geographical terminology, due to the country's unique geography. This is particularly true when comparing with British English, due to that country's dramatically different geography. British geographical terms not in common use in Australia include (Australian usage in bold): ''coppice'' (cleared bushland); ''dell'' (valley); ''fen'' (swamp); ''heath'' (shrubland); ''meadow'' (grassy plain); ''moor'' (swampland); ''spinney'' (shrubland); ''stream'' (creek); ''woods'' (bush) and ''village'' (even the smallest settlements in Australia are called towns or stations). In addition, a number of words in Australian English have different meanings from those ascribed in other varieties of English. Clothing-related examples are notable. ''Pants'' in Australian English follows American usage in reference to British English ''trousers'' but in British English refer to Australian English ''underpants''; ''vest'' in Australian English pass also in American refers to British English ''waistcoat'' but in British English refers to Australian English ''singlet''. ''Thong'' in both American and British English refers to underwear (known in Australia as a ''
G-string A G-string is a garment consisting of a narrow piece of material that barely covers the genitals, a string-like piece that passes between the buttocks, and a very thin waistband around the hips. There are designs for both women and men. Men's G- ...
''), while in Australian English it refers to British and American English ''flip-flop'' (footwear). There are numerous other examples, including ''
biscuit A biscuit is a flour-based baked food item. Biscuits are typically hard, flat, and unleavened. They are usually sweet and may be made with sugar, chocolate, icing, jam, ginger, or cinnamon. They can also be savoury, similar to crackers. ...
'' which refers in Australian and British English to what in American English is ''cookie'' or ''cracker'' but to a savoury cake in American English (though cookie is often used for American-styled biscuits such as chocolate chip cookies); ''Asian'', which in Australian and American English commonly refers to people of
East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...
n heritage, as opposed to British English, in which it commonly refers to people of
South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...
n descent; ''(potato) chips'' which refers both to British English ''crisps'' (which is not used in Australian English) and to American English ''French fries'' (which is used alongside ''hot chips''); and ''
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
'', which in Australian English refers to
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...
,
Rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...
or
Rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
– what British refer to as football is referred to as ''
soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
'' and what Americans term football is referred to as '' gridiron''. In addition to the large number of uniquely Australian idioms in common use, there are instances of idioms taking differing forms in the various Anglophone nations, for example (Australian usage in bold): Home away from home, take with a grain of salt and wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole (which in British English take the respective forms ''home from home'', ''take with a pinch of salt'' and ''wouldn't touch with a barge pole''), or a drop in the ocean and touch wood (which in American English take the forms ''a drop in the bucket'' and ''knock on wood'').


British and American English terms not widely used in Australian English

There are extensive terms used in other varieties of English which are not widely used in Australian English. These terms usually do not result in Australian English speakers failing to comprehend speakers of other varieties of English, as Australian English speakers will often be familiar with such terms through exposure to media or may ascertain the meaning using context. Non-exhaustive selections of British English and American English terms not commonly used in Australian English together with their definitions or Australian English equivalents are found in the collapsible table below: British English terms not widely used in Australian English * Allotment (gardening): A
community garden A community garden is a piece of land gardened or cultivated by a group of people individually or collectively. Normally in community gardens, the land is divided into individual plots. Each individual gardener is responsible for their own plot ...
not connected to a dwelling * Artic or articulated lorry (vehicle): Australian English ''
semi-trailer A semi-trailer is a trailer (vehicle), trailer without a front axle. The combination of a semi-trailer and a tractor truck is called a ''semi-trailer truck'' (also known simply as a "semi-trailer", "tractor trailer", or "semi" in the United Sta ...
'') * Aubergine (vegetable): Australian English ''
eggplant Eggplant (American English, US, Canadian English, CA, Australian English, AU, Philippine English, PH), aubergine (British English, UK, Hiberno English, IE, New Zealand English, NZ), brinjal (Indian English, IN, Singapore English, SG, Malays ...
'' * Bank holiday: Australian English ''public holiday'' * Barmy: Crazy, mad or insane. * Bedsit: Australian English ''studio (apartment)'' * Belisha beacon: A flashing light atop a pole used to mark a pedestrian crossing * Bin lorry: Australian English: ''
garbage truck A garbage truck is a truck specially designed to collect municipal solid waste and transport it to a list of solid waste treatment technologies, solid waste treatment facility, such as a landfill, materials recovery facility, recycling center ...
''/''rubbish truck'' * Bobby: A police officer, particularly one of lower rank * Cagoule: A lightweight
raincoat A raincoat is a waterproof or water-resistant garment worn on the upper body to shield the wearer from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats with long sleeves that are waist-length. A rain jacket may be combined wit ...
or windsheeter * Candy floss (confectionery): Australian English '' fairy floss'' * Cash machine: Australian English ''automatic teller machine'' * Chav: Lower socio-economic person comparable to Australian English ''bogan'' * Child-minder: Australian English ''
babysitter Babysitting is temporarily caring for a child. Babysitting can be a paid job for all ages; however, it is best known as a temporary activity for early teenagers who are not yet eligible for employment in the general economy. It provides auto ...
'' * Chivvy: To hurry (somebody) along. Australian English ''nag'' * Chrimbo: Abbreviation for ''Christmas'' comparable to Australian English ''Chrissy'' * Chuffed: To be proud (especially of oneself) * Cleg (insect): Australian English ''horsefly'' * Clingfilm: A plastic wrap used in food preparation. Australian English ''Glad wrap/ cling wrap'' * Community payback: Australian English ''
community service Community service is unpaid work performed by a person or group of people for the benefit and betterment of their community contributing to a noble cause. In many cases, people doing community service are compensated in other ways, such as gettin ...
'' * Comprehensive school: Australian English ''state school'' or ''public school'' * Cooker: A kitchen appliance. Australian English ''
stove A stove or range is a device that generates heat inside or on top of the device, for - local heating or cooking. Stoves can be powered with many fuels, such as natural gas, electricity, gasoline, wood, and coal. Due to concerns about air pollu ...
'' and/or ''oven'' * Coppice: An area of cleared woodland * Council housing: Australian English ''public housing'' * Counterpane: A bed covering. Australian English ''bedspread'' * Courgette: A vegetable. Australian English ''
zucchini Zucchini (; : ''zucchini'' or ''zucchinis''), courgette () or ''Cucurbita pepo'' is a summer squash, a Vine, vining herbaceous plant whose fruit are harvested when their immature seeds and Fruit anatomy#Epicarp, epicarp (rind) are still soft a ...
'' * Creche: Australian English ''
child care Child care, also known as day care, is the care and supervision of one or more children, typically ranging from three months to 18 years old. Although most parents spend a significant amount of time caring for their child(ren), childcare typica ...
centre'' * (potato) Crisps: Australian English '' (potato) chips'' * Current account: Australian English ''transaction account'' * Dell: A small secluded hollow or valley * Do: Australian English ''party'' or social gathering * Doddle: An easy task * Doss (verb): To spend time idly * Drawing pin: Australian English ''thumb tack'' * Dungarees: Australian English ''
overalls Overalls or bib-and-brace overalls, also called dungarees in British English, are a type of garment usually used as protective clothing when working. The garments are commonly referred to as a "pair of overalls" by analogy with "pair of trousers ...
'' * Dustbin: Australian English '' garbage bin/rubbish bin'' * Dustcart: Australian English ''
garbage truck A garbage truck is a truck specially designed to collect municipal solid waste and transport it to a list of solid waste treatment technologies, solid waste treatment facility, such as a landfill, materials recovery facility, recycling center ...
/rubbish truck'' * Duvet: Australian English ''
doona ''Doona'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It includes ten species of trees endemic to Sri Lanka. Species Ten species are accepted. *''Doona affinis'' *''Doona congestiflora'' *''Doona cordifolia'' *''Doona dist ...
'' * Elastoplast or plaster: An adhesive used to cover small wounds. Australian English '' band-aid'' * Electrical lead: Australian English ''electrical cord'' * Estate car: Australian English ''
station wagon A station wagon (American English, US, also wagon) or estate car (British English, UK, also estate) is an automotive Car body style, body-style variant of a Sedan (automobile), sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo ...
'' * Fairy cake: Australian English ''
cupcake A cupcake ( AmE, CanE), fairy cake ( BrE), or bun ( IrE) is a small cake designed to serve one person, which may be baked in a small thin paper or aluminum cup. As with larger cakes, frosting, icing and various other cake decorations such as ...
'' * Father Christmas: Australian English ''
Santa Claus Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...
'' * Fen: A low and frequently flooded area of land, similar to Australian English ''swamp'' * Free phone: Australian English ''
toll-free A toll-free telephone number or freephone number is a telephone number that is billed for all arriving calls. For the calling party, a call to a toll-free number is free of charge, unless air-charges apply for mobile telephone service. A toll-free ...
'' * Gammon: Meat from the hind leg of
pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...
. Australian English makes no distinction between gammon and ''ham'' * Git: A foolish person. Equivalent to ''idiot'' or ''moron'' * Goose pimples: Australian English ''
goose bumps Goose bumps, goosebumps or goose pimples are the bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which may involuntarily develop when a person is Tickling, tickled, cold or experiencing strong emotions such as fear, euphoria or sexual arousa ...
'' * Hacked off: To be irritated or upset, often with a person * Hairgrip: Australian English ''hairpin'' or ''bobbypin'' * Half-term: Australian English ''
school holiday An academic year, or school year, is a period that schools, colleges and university, universities use to measure the duration of studies for a given educational level. Academic years are often divided into academic terms. Students attend classe ...
'' * Haulier: Australian English '' hauler'' * Heath: An area of dry grass or shrubs, similar to Australian English ''shrubland'' * Hoover(verb): Australian English ''to
vacuum A vacuum (: vacuums or vacua) is space devoid of matter. The word is derived from the Latin adjective (neuter ) meaning "vacant" or "void". An approximation to such vacuum is a region with a gaseous pressure much less than atmospheric pressur ...
'' * Horsebox: Australian English '' horse float'' * Ice lolly: Australian English '' ice block'' or ''icy pole'' * Juicy bits: Small pieces of fruit residue found in fruit juice. Australian English ''
pulp Pulp may refer to: * Pulp (fruit), the inner flesh of fruit * Pulp (band), an English rock band Engineering * Pulp (paper), the fibrous material used to make paper * Dissolving pulp, highly purified cellulose used in fibre and film manufacture ...
'' * Kip: To ''sleep'' * Kitchen roll: Australian English ''
paper towel A paper towel is an absorbent, disposable towel made from paper. In Commonwealth English, paper towels for kitchen use are also known as kitchen rolls, kitchen paper, or kitchen towels. For home use, paper towels are usually sold in a roll of p ...
'' * Landslip: Australian English ''landslide'' * Lavatory: Australian English ''toilet'' (''lavatory'' is used in Australian English for toilets on aeroplanes) * Lido: A public swimming pool * Lorry: Australian English ''truck'' * Loudhailer: Australian English ''megaphone'' * Mackintosh or mac: Australian English ''
raincoat A raincoat is a waterproof or water-resistant garment worn on the upper body to shield the wearer from rain. The term rain jacket is sometimes used to refer to raincoats with long sleeves that are waist-length. A rain jacket may be combined wit ...
'' * Mangetout: Australian English ''
snow pea The snow pea is an edible-pod pea with flat pods and thin pod walls, in contrast to snap pea pods, which are round with thick walls. It is eaten whole, with both the seeds and the pod, while still unripened. Names The common name snow pea ...
'' * Marrow: Australian English '' squash'' * Minidish: A
satellite dish A satellite dish is a dish-shaped type of parabolic antenna designed to receive or transmit information by radio waves to or from a communication satellite. The term most commonly means a dish which receives direct-broadcast satellite televisio ...
for domestic (especially television) use * Moggie: A
domestic short-haired cat A moggy is any cat which has not been intentionally bred. Moggies lack a consistent appearance unlike purebred cats that are Selective breeding, selectively bred for appearance conforming to a Breed standard, standard. In contexts where cats ne ...
* Moor: A low area prone to flooding, similar to Australian English ''swampland'' * Nettled: Irritated (especially with somebody) * Nosh: A meal or spread of food * Off-licence: Australian English '' bottle shop/Bottle-o'' * Pak choi: Australian English ''
bok choy Bok choy (American English, Canadian English, and Australian English), pak choi (British English, South African English, and Caribbean English) or pok choi is a type of Chinese cabbage ('' Brassica rapa'' subsp. ''chinensis'') cultivated as a le ...
'' * Pavement: Australian English ''
footpath A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians and not other forms of traffic such as Motor vehicle, motorized vehicles, bicycles and horseback, horses. They ...
'' * Pelican crossing: Australian English ''pedestrian crossing'' or ''zebra crossing'' * Peaky: Unwell or sickly * (red or green) Pepper (vegetable): Australian English ''
capsicum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the Solanum, nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their edible fruit, which are generally known as "peppers" or "capsicum". Chili peppers grow on five s ...
'' * People carrier (vehicle): Australian English ''
people mover A people mover or automated people mover (APM) is a type of small-scale automated guideway transit system. The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks ...
'' * Pikey: An itinerant person. Similar to Australian English ''tramp'' * Pillar box: Australian English ''
post box A post box (British English; also written postbox; also known as pillar box), also known as a collection box, mailbox, letter box or drop box (American English), is a physical box into which members of the public can deposit outgoing mail intend ...
'' * Pillock: A mildly offensive term for a foolish or obnoxious person, similar to ''idiot'' or ''moron''. Also refers to male genetalia * Plimsoll (footwear): Australian English '' sandshoe'' * Pneumatic drill: Australian English ''
jackhammer A jackhammer (pneumatic drill or demolition hammer in British English) is a pneumatic or electro-mechanical tool that combines a hammer directly with a chisel. It was invented by William McReavy, who then sold the patent to Charles Brady Ki ...
'' * Polo neck (garment): Australian English '' skivvy'' * Poorly: Unwell or sick * Press-up (exercise): Australian English ''
push-up The push-up (press-up in British English) is a common calisthenics Physical exercise, exercise beginning from the prone position. By raising and lowering the body using the arms, push-ups exercise the pectoralis major muscle, pectoral muscl ...
'' * Pushchair: A wheeled cart for pushing a baby. Australian English: ''
stroller Various methods of transporting children have been used in different cultures and times. These methods include baby carriages (prams in British English), infant car seats, portable bassinets (carrycots), strollers (pushchairs), slings, backpacks ...
'' or ''pram'' * Pusher: A wheeled cart for pushing a baby. Australian English: ''
stroller Various methods of transporting children have been used in different cultures and times. These methods include baby carriages (prams in British English), infant car seats, portable bassinets (carrycots), strollers (pushchairs), slings, backpacks ...
'' or ''pram'' * Rodgering: A mildly offensive term for sexual intercourse, similar to Australian English ''rooting'' * Saloon (car): Australian English ''sedan'' * Scratchings (food): Solid material left after rendering animal (especially pork) fat. Australian English '' crackling'' * Sellotape: Australian English ''sticky tape'' * Shan't: Australian English ''will not'' * Skive (verb): To play truant, particularly from an educational institution. Australian English to '' wag'' * Sleeping policeman: Australian English ''speed hump'' or ''speed bump'' * Snog (verb): To kiss passionately, equivalent to Australian English ''pash'' * Sod: A mildly offensive term for an unpleasant person * Spinney: A small area of trees and bushes * Strimmer: Australian English ''whipper snipper'' or '' line trimmer'' * Swan (verb): To move from one place to another ostentatiously * Sweets: Australian English '' lollies'' * Tailback: A long queue of stationary or slow-moving traffic * Tangerine: Australian English ''
mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
'' * Tipp-Ex: Australian English ''white out'' or ''liquid paper'' * Trainers: Athletic footwear. Australian English ''runners'' or sneakers * Turning (noun): Where one road branches from another. Australian English ''turn'' * Utility room: A room containing washing or other home appliances, similar to Australian English ''
laundry Laundry is the washing of clothing and other textiles, and, more broadly, their drying and ironing as well. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with this u ...
'' * Value-added tax (VAT): Australian English '' goods and services tax (GST)'' * Wellington boots: Australian English '' gumboots'' * White spirit: Australian English ''
turpentine Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthine, terebenthene, terebinthine and, colloquially, turps) is a fluid obtainable by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Principall ...
'' American English terms not widely used in Australian English''The Macquarie Dictionary'', Fourth Edition. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, 2005. Note: Entries with ''Chiefly US'' usage note in the Macquarie Dictionary and reference to corresponding Australian entry. * Acclimate: Australian English ''acclimatise'' * Airplane: Australian English ''aeroplane'' * Aluminum: Australian English ''aluminium'' * Baby carriage: Australian English ''stroller'' or ''pram'' * Bangs: A hair style. Australian English ''fringe'' * Baseboard (architecture): Australian English ''skirting board'' * Bayou: Australian English ''swamp''/''billabong'' * Bell pepper: Australian English ''
capsicum ''Capsicum'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the Solanum, nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their edible fruit, which are generally known as "peppers" or "capsicum". Chili peppers grow on five s ...
'' * Bellhop: Australian English ''hotel porter'' * Beltway: Australian English ''
ring road A ring road (also known as circular road, beltline, beltway, circumferential (high)way, loop or orbital) is a road or a series of connected roads encircling a town, city or country. The most common purpose of a ring road is to assist in reducin ...
'' * Boondocks: An isolated, rural area. Australian English ''the sticks'' or ''Woop Woop'' or ''Beyond the black stump'' * Broil (cooking technique): Australian English '' grill'' * Bullhorn: Australian English ''megaphone'' * Burglarize: Australian English ''burgle'' * Busboy: A subclass of (restaurant) waiter * Candy: Australian English '' lollies'' * Cellular phone: Australian English ''mobile phone'' * Check: (To mean a restaurant bill). Australian English ''bill'' * Cilantro: Australian English ''
coriander Coriander (), whose leaves are known as cilantro () in the U.S. and parts of Canada, and dhania in parts of South Asia and Africa, is an annual plant, annual herb (''Coriandrum sativum'') in the family Apiaceae. Most people perceive the ...
'' * Comforter: Australian English ''
doona ''Doona'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Dipterocarpaceae. It includes ten species of trees endemic to Sri Lanka. Species Ten species are accepted. *''Doona affinis'' *''Doona congestiflora'' *''Doona cordifolia'' *''Doona dist ...
'' * Condominium: Australian English ''apartment'' * Counter-clockwise: Australian English ''anticlockwise'' * Coveralls: Australian English ''
overall Overalls or bib-and-brace overalls, also called dungarees in British English, are a type of garment usually used as protective clothing when working. The garments are commonly referred to as a "pair of overalls" by analogy with "pair of trousers ...
s'' * Crapshoot: A risky venture * Diaper: Australian English ''nappy'' * Downtown: Australian English ''central business district'' * Drapes: Australian English ''curtains'' * Drugstore: Australian English ''
pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...
'' or ''chemist'' * Drywall: Australian English ''plasterboard'' * Dumpster: Australian English '' skip bin'' * Dweeb: Australian English ''nerd'' * Eraser: Australian English ''rubber'' * Fall (season): Australian English ''autumn'' * Fanny pack: Australian English '' bum bag'' * Faucet: Australian English ''tap'' * Flashlight: Australian English ''
torch A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end which can be used as a light source or to set something on fire. Torches have been used throughout history and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggl ...
'' *
Freshman A freshman, fresher, first year, or colloquially frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational in ...
: A first year student at a highschool or university * Frosting (cookery): Australian English ''icing'' * Gasoline: Australian English ''petrol'' * Gas pedal: Australian English '' accelerator'' * Gas Station: Australian English ''service station'' or ''petrol station'' * Glove compartment: Australian English ''
glovebox A glovebox (or glove box) is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects where a separate atmosphere is desired. Built into the sides of the glovebox are gloves arranged in such a way that the user can place their hand ...
'' * Golden raisin: Australian English '' sultana'' * Grifter: Australian English ''
con artist A scam, or a confidence trick, is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust. Confidence tricks exploit victims using a combination of the victim's credulity, naivety, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibi ...
'' * Ground beef: Australian English ''
minced beef Ground beef, hamburger, hamburger meat (North American English), minced beef or beef mince (Commonwealth English; often just generically referred to as ''mince'' or ''mincemeat'') is beef that has been finely chopped with a knife or meat grind ...
'' or ''mince'' * Hood (vehicle): Australian English ''bonnet'' * Hot tub: Australian English ''
spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa health treatments are known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters and hot springs goes back to pre ...
'' or ''spa bath'' * Jell-o: Australian English ''jelly'' * Ladybug: Australian English ''ladybird'' * Mail-man: Australian English ''postman'' or ''postie'' * Mass transit: Australian English ''public transport'' * Math: Australian English ''maths'' * Mineral spirits: Australian English ''
turpentine Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthine, terebenthene, terebinthine and, colloquially, turps) is a fluid obtainable by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Principall ...
'' * Nightstand: Australian English ''bedside table'' * Obligated: Australian English ''obliged'' * Out-of-state: Australian English ''interstate'' * Pacifier: Australian English ''dummy'' * Parking lot: Australian English ''
car park A parking lot or car park (British English), also known as a car lot, is a cleared area intended for parking vehicles. The term usually refers to an area dedicated only for parking, with a durable or semi-durable surface. In most jurisdic ...
'' * Penitentiary: Australian English ''prison'' or ''jail'' * Period(punctuation): Australian English ''full stop'' * Play hooky (verb): To play truant from an educational institution. Equivalent to Australian English (to) ''wag'' * Popsicle: Australian English '' ice block'' or ''icy pole'' * Railroad: Australian English ''railway'' * Railroad ties: Australian English ''Railway sleepers'' * Rappel: Australian English ''
abseil Abseiling ( ; ), also known as rappelling ( ; ), is the controlled descent of a steep slope, such as a rock face, by moving down a rope. When abseiling, the person descending controls their own movement down a static or fixed rope, in cont ...
'' * Realtor: Australian English ''
real estate agent Real estate agents and real estate brokers are people who represent sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and age ...
'' * Root (sport): To enthusiastically support a sporting team. Equivalent to Australian English ''barrack'' * Row house: Australian English ''
terrace house A terrace, terraced house ( UK), or townhouse ( US) is a type of medium-density housing which first started in 16th century Europe with a row of joined houses sharing side walls. In the United States and Canada these are sometimes known as row ...
'' * Sales tax: Australian English '' goods and services tax (GST)'' * Saran wrap: Australian English ''
plastic wrap Plastic wrap, cling film, Saran wrap, cling wrap, Glad wrap or food wrap is a thin plastic film typically used for sealing food items in containers to keep them fresh over a longer period of time. Plastic wrap, typically sold on rolls in boxe ...
'' or ''cling wrap'' * Scad: Australian English ''a large quantity'' * Scallion: Australian English ''spring onion'' * Sharpie (pen): Australian English ''permanent marker'' or ''texta'' or ''felt pen'' * Shopping cart: Australian English ''shopping trolley'' * Sidewalk: Australian English ''footpath'' * Silverware or flatware: Australian English ''
cutlery Cutlery (also referred to as silverware, flatware, or tableware) includes any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in Western culture. A person who makes or sells cutlery is called a cutler. While most cutlers ...
'' * Soda pop: Australian English ''soft drink'' * Streetcar: Australian English ''tram'' * Sweater: Garment. Australian English ''jumper'' * Sweatpants: Australian English '' tracksuit pants/trackies'' * Tailpipe: Australian English ''
exhaust pipe An exhaust system is used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine or stove. The entire system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes. Depending on the overall syste ...
'' * Takeout: Australian English ''takeaway'' * Trash can: Australian English '' garbage bin'' or ''rubbish bin'' * Trunk (vehicle): Australian English ''boot'' * Turn signal: Australian English ''indicator'' * Turtleneck: Australian English '' skivvy'' * Upscale and downscale: Australian English ''upmarket'' and ''downmarket'' * Vacation: Australian English ''holiday'' * Windshield: Australian English ''
windscreen The windshield (American English and Canadian English) or windscreen (Commonwealth English) of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike, truck, train, boat or streetcar is the front window, which provides visibility while protecting occupants from t ...
''


See also

*
Australian English Australian English (AusE, AusEng, AuE, AuEng, en-AU) is the set of variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is the country's common language and ''de facto'' national language. While Australia has no of ...
* Australian comedy *
Diminutives in Australian English Diminutive forms of words are commonly used in everyday Australian English. While many dialects of English make use of diminutives and hypocorisms, Australian English uses them more extensively than any other.Sussex, Roland. 2004. Abstand, Aus ...
*
List of English words of Australian Aboriginal origin This is a list of English words derived from Australian Aboriginal languages. Some are restricted to Australian English as a whole or to certain regions of the country. Others, such as ''kangaroo'' and ''boomerang'', have become widely used in ot ...
* List of Australian place names of Aboriginal origin *
List of Australian plants termed "native" This is a list of Australian plants which have had a common name prefixed with the adjective "native". Early European settlers in Australia were confronted with a large variety of unaccustomed animals and plants, and in many cases gave them famili ...
*
Strine Strine, also spelled Stryne (), is Australian slang for a broad Australian English accent. Someone who speaks Strine is called an Ocker. In contemporary Australian spoken English, the term ''Strine'' is being replaced by ''Strayan'', a word gainin ...
*
Languages of Australia The languages of Australia are the major historic and current languages used in Australia and its offshore islands. Over 250 Australian Aboriginal languages are thought to have existed at the time of first European contact. English is the majo ...


Notes


Further reading

* Hornadge, Bill.(1989) ''The Australian slanguage: a look at what we say and how we say it'' (foreword by
Spike Milligan Terence Alan "Spike" Milligan (16 April 1918 – 27 February 2002) was an Irish comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright and actor. The son of an English mother and Irish father, he was born in British Raj, British India, where he spent his ...
). Richmond, Vic: Mandarin


External links


Aussie English, The Illustrated Dictionary of Australian EnglishMacquarie Dictionary
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian English Vocabulary Australian English Languages of Australia Lexis (linguistics)