I’ve been in the country for more than nine months now. I’ve been picking up some of the language they use. For your convenience, here is a handy guide for your study.
Disclaimer: While I hear these terms on a daily basis, I do not use them. I will not be held responsible for how ridiculous you, as an American, will sound when you try to speak Australian slang. We Americans just can’t pull it off.
| Australian English | American English | Sample Sentence |
| Aussie | citizen of Australia (pronounce Ozzy) | |
| bench | counter | Put the refreshments on the bench. |
| bubs | a nickname for a baby | Bubs is getting so big! |
| car park | parking garage | There is a car park around the corner from the library. |
| Cheerio! | So long! | |
| cot | crib | Paul only sleeps well in his cot. |
| dummy | pacifier | Paul thinks his dummy is yummy. |
| hamper | basket | The week before Christmas, bring some fruit for hampers for the poor. |
| heaps | a lot | Last week, it rained heaps. |
| How you going?/How are you going? | What’s up? or How are you doing? | |
| mozzies | mosquitoes | There are so many mozzies tonight! |
| nappy (-ies) | diaper(s) | Paul has a wet nappy! |
| supper | a light refreshment in the evening | After the baptism, we’ll have supper in the foyer. |
| tcha | OK/the end of a conversation | |
| tea | (1) The evening meal; (2) mid-afternoon snack; (3) a hot beverage | (1) Would you like to come to tea Sunday after church? (2) She said she’d bring some rolls for tea for new mum’s group Tuesday. (3) do you really need an example? |
| trolley | shopping cart |
I keep thinking of other terms: for example, rubbish bin for garbage can.