Different australian words compared to US words.

[youngaussienurse]

Here in Australia, some of our words are different to the American ones. For example here a diaper is a nappie, a fanny pack is a bum-bag, candy is lollies, does anyone have any other words that are different but mean the same thing so that I don't confuse everyone when I am over there IYKWIM. Thanks!!

 

[chop456]

One topic that I seem to hear every once in a while is the difference between a soda, pop and coke. To me, they are all the same thing.

 

[Lady Cluck]

In the US, fans cheer or "root" for their favorite team. During the Olympics, one of TV reporters made a point of telling Americans not to say "root", because it has a quite different connotation Down Under.

 

[WillCAD]

These are observations made from talking to my friends Rod and Diane, who live in Geelong, not far from Melbourne.

In Oz, you say "How are you going?" In the States, we say, "How are you doing?" Or with the proper accent, it's "Howya doin'?" Fans of the TV programe Friends will often say it with a Joey Tribiani flourish, "How YOU doin'?"

In Oz, you go to get "tea" in the evening. In the States, we call that "dinner" or "supper". The mid-day meal is "supper" in Oz, while it is "lunch" in the States. To me, it's all called "eats".

In Oz, something that costs a lot of money is "dear". In the States, it's "expensive". To me, it's "They want HOW much for that?! That's highway robbery!"

In Oz, things you like are often called "bonzer". We don't have this word in the States, and instead most often use "cool". Younger people also say "awesome", "tight", "fresh", or "hot", but unless you're under 25 you should probably stick with "cool". I tend to use the Parker Lewis version, "Coolness."

Also in Oz, the word "queer" still has the old-fashioned literal meaning of "odd" or "strange", and the word "gay" still means "happy". In the States, both of those words are now common terms for homosexuals, so I'd avoid using them in public unless you want to get some strange looks. "Queer" in particular is often used in a negative way, as an insult.

I can;t remember if Aussies use the term "car park" like the Britts do, but in the States the place where cars park is called the "parking lot". Also, I don't recall if you call gasoline "petrol" or not, but in the States it is universally referred to simply as "gas" (except diesel fuel, which is simply called "diesel") You will find no LP or natural gas vehicles in Orlando except for some public utility vehicles, which are sometimes run on natural gas.

 

[notnothin]

These are observations made from talking to my friends Rod and Diane, who live in Geelong, not far from Melbourne.

In Oz, you say "How are you going?" In the States, we say, "How are you doing?" Or with the proper accent, it's "Howya doin'?" Fans of the TV programe Friends will often say it with a Joey Tribiani flourish, "How YOU doin'?"

In Oz, you go to get "tea" in the evening. In the States, we call that "dinner" or "supper". The mid-day meal is "supper" in Oz, while it is "lunch" in the States. To me, it's all called "eats".

In Oz, something that costs a lot of money is "dear". In the States, it's "expensive". To me, it's "They want HOW much for that?! That's highway robbery!"

In Oz, things you like are often called "bonzer". We don't have this word in the States, and instead most often use "cool". Younger people also say "awesome", "tight", "fresh", or "hot", but unless you're under 25 you should probably stick with "cool". I tend to use the Parker Lewis version, "Coolness."

Also in Oz, the word "queer" still has the old-fashioned literal meaning of "odd" or "strange", and the word "gay" still means "happy". In the States, both of those words are now common terms for homosexuals, so I'd avoid using them in public unless you want to get some strange looks. "Queer" in particular is often used in a negative way, as an insult.

I can;t remember if Aussies use the term "car park" like the Britts do, but in the States the place where cars park is called the "parking lot". Also, I don't recall if you call gasoline "petrol" or not, but in the States it is universally referred to simply as "gas" (except diesel fuel, which is simply called "diesel") You will find no LP or natural gas vehicles in Orlando except for some public utility vehicles, which are sometimes run on natural gas.

Interesting! I'd like to hear more of these.

 

[aussiemouse]

Okay, here's a couple that I thought of. Im speaking as an Aussie (now living in the US) so when I say "we", I mean Australian's say it this way .....
Also different regions in Australia have their own slang, so what I grew up saying (as a Sandgroper) wasn't necesarily what the kids in Sydney were saying ....but you can bet it was just as weird.

Food Related
We say icy pole, here it's a popsicle, jam is jelly and jelly is jello
We refer to pop or soda as "cool drink". Lemonade is like Sprite or 7up in Australia, here it is not carbonated.
As someone mentioned, we call dinner "tea" and dessert is "sweets". Tomato sauce is ketchup, chips are french fries, chewy is gum, and an entree is a starter or appitizer, here it's the main course. Also if you order a salad here it usually comes before your main course, In Australia it comes with the meal. I'm still not used to that!

Okay, general stuff...
The rubbish bin is the garbage can, the pavement is the sidewalk, a pram is a stroller, the loo or toilet is usually referred to as the bathroom or restroom (just a note - in Aust. a bathroom is only called that if there is a 'bath' in there), we definately don't refer our bum as our fanny, that's something altogether different
On your car, the boot is the trunk, your bathers/cossie/togs are your swimsuit, if your pissed, here your mad .. in Australia your drunk (or better known as "off your face"), if your agro, your mad. We call a cigarette a "***". An "esky" is a cooler, "bikkies" are cookies, a "kip" is a nap, a torch is a flashflight.

Okay just a few funny saying that I grew up with and didn't think they were weird until I moved here and was told "they definately are strange"

"I'm easy" just means I don't care what we do/which way we go, I'm being agreeable ... it doesn't mean your gonna get lucky!!
If I "spit the dummy", I'm having a temper tantrum, usually rectified by DH saying "I'm easy" and letting me get my way.
"Beg yours?" means I didn't hear/understand you, please repeat, as in, "I beg your pardon".
"Flat out" means I'm really moving fast.
"Flat out like a lizard drinking" is even faster.
If Im "having a gander", I'm just looking .... if I can't look away, then I'm being "a sticky beak".
A "dag" is a funny term of endearment to someone being silly. (Don't worry that it really means the poop stuck on the wool of a sheeps bum).
Okay and the last few are probably not that common, but sayings my Dad still says every day.
"Lets hit the frog and toad" of course that means lets get going/hit the road
and "Let me have a butchers hook", it just means he needs to have a look.

See ya round like a rissole

(okay a rissole is a small meat ball)

 

[maxaroni]

is it true that an 'anklebiter' is a small child?

 

[WillCAD]

is it true that an 'anklebiter' is a small child?

It is here in Maryland.

 

[RICH]

Aussiemouse 90% of your sayings are British,you know you're only British convicts anyway.Commiserations for the tests this summer.
(only joking,could'nt resist it)

 

[Nanu57v]

Aussiemouse 90% of your sayings are British,you know you're only British convicts anyway.Commiserations for the tests this summer.
(only joking,could'nt resist it)

You know I was pretty old before someone told me that Austrailia wasn't a penal colony anymore. I thought that it was a closed off system for the convicts and they lived their lives, had children and everything, but they couldn't leave the continent. Seriously I was like 14.

 

[Rachael Q]

I am an Aussie (well Tasmanian, really) living in Canada.

Here are some things my DH always comments on....
I say jumper = sweater
I say biscuit = cookie
I say bathers = swimsuit
I say pinch = steal e.g. He pinched a pack of smokes
I say arvo = afternoon
I say boot = trunk
I say bonnett = hood
I say petrol = gas
I say service station or servo = gas station
I say bingle = small car accident
I say tippex = white out
I say sticky tape = scotch tape
I say post = mail
I say torch = flashlight
I say footpath = sidewalk
I say car park = parking lot
I say relief teacher = substitute teacher
I say "I feel crook" = I feel sick
I say dodgy = not good/off e.g .they painted their walls a dodgy colour or I feel dodgy!
I say queue = line up
I say agro = angry
I say lift = elevator
I say woop woop = long way away e.g. they live out the back of woop woop
I say ute = kind of like a truck
I say take away food = take out food
I say thongs = flip flops
I say stubbie = bottle of beer (bottle is a distinct shape and size)
I say rice bubbles = rice krispies
I say lemonade = 7up, etc (carbonated)
I say lemon squash = lemonade (not carbonated)
I say eskie = cooler
I say chemist = pharmacy
I say rubbish = garbage

some other things that send him into fits...
Ar ya nong = you're a fool
Milk bar = corner store
heaps = lots, many e.g. there were heaps of people there or I ate heaps or I gave him heaps (gave him a bad time) or give it heaps (don't hold back)
Ar ya galah = silly person

We are both sure there are more, but that's all we can think of right now

Rachael

 

[Adrienne]

How about textas in the us u call them magic markers.

Adrienne

 

[poohqueen]

How about textas in the us u call them magic markers.

Adrienne

Adrienne, I visited Adelaide last year, and loved it. It is an awesome place, and would love to go back some day. Maybe even live there, just have to convince my family...lol

The things I noticed that were different as I am Canadian were:
Sun glasses here are Sunnies there
Presents are Pressies
Coffee they called a flat white.
How ya going today, instead of how are you doing today.

Love the Aussies, thing they are fantastic!!!!!!!

 

[aussiemouse]

Aussiemouse 90% of your sayings are British,you know you're only British convicts anyway.Commiserations for the tests this summer.
(only joking,could'nt resist it)

So true .... my family tree definately date back to a young English fellow who was unfortunate enough to get caught shoplifting and lo and behold off to Australia he went! Met a nice English girl and here we are .... My Mum likes to think her side of the family are more civilized. They emmigrated from Scotland when she was 2. Didn't catch the cricket .... it's never on the telly here, we do get aussie rules though!

 

[aanthony03]

I'm married to an Aussie. We were in Syndey planning our wedding, his family and other relos were there helping us at the house one day. Anyway, hubby to be was driving me crazy, and on the top of my lungs I yelled "I'll kick your fanny next time". I had over 30 people looking at me . Later on, he told me that fanny in Australia is the slang word for the womans private area. I was so embarrassed because fanny in the US means your bum.


PS: Can I bribe you into bringing me a Pavlova . haha! They don't have them here. Boy! their missing out.

 

[Swimnoid]

My friend who has lived off and on in Australia says when you come here you should ask for sprinkles on your ice cream instead of "hundreds of thousands". Personally I like the sound of "hundreds for thousands" better!

 

[roger_ramjet]

I am an Aussie (well Tasmanian, really) living in Canada.

Here are some things my DH always comments on....
I say jumper = sweater
I say biscuit = cookie
I say bathers = swimsuit
I say pinch = steal e.g. He pinched a pack of smokes
I say arvo = afternoon
I say boot = trunk
I say bonnett = hood
I say petrol = gas
I say service station or servo = gas station
I say bingle = small car accident
I say tippex = white out
I say sticky tape = scotch tape
I say post = mail
I say torch = flashlight
I say footpath = sidewalk
I say car park = parking lot
I say relief teacher = substitute teacher
I say "I feel crook" = I feel sick
I say dodgy = not good/off e.g .they painted their walls a dodgy colour or I feel dodgy!
I say queue = line up
I say agro = angry
I say lift = elevator
I say woop woop = long way away e.g. they live out the back of woop woop
I say ute = kind of like a truck
I say take away food = take out food
I say thongs = flip flops
I say stubbie = bottle of beer (bottle is a distinct shape and size)
I say rice bubbles = rice krispies
I say lemonade = 7up, etc (carbonated)
I say lemon squash = lemonade (not carbonated)
I say eskie = cooler
I say chemist = pharmacy
I say rubbish = garbage

some other things that send him into fits...
Ar ya nong = you're a fool
Milk bar = corner store
heaps = lots, many e.g. there were heaps of people there or I ate heaps or I gave him heaps (gave him a bad time) or give it heaps (don't hold back)
Ar ya galah = silly person

We are both sure there are more, but that's all we can think of right now

Rachael

Sounds like a discussion that my wife and I would have (me being the antipodean half of us)!

 

[cdjenk]

Rachel, I want to thank you for this quick and dirty comparison! I'm living with an Australian as our Au Pair and there have been many times that we are getting into conversations of "What did you say?" or "Why do you call it that?" Even though we both speak English, we are defininitely not speaking the same language! Keep them coming!

Don't forget about "Rock Melon", "bubby", "nappy", "dummy" and "Sook". I'm still trying to figure that one out!

Chris

 

[MickeyMacks]

Okay, here's a couple that I thought of. Im speaking as an Aussie (now living in the US) so when I say "we", I mean Australian's say it this way .....
A "dag" is a funny term of endearment to someone being silly. (Don't worry that it really means the poop stuck on the wool of a sheeps bum).

Don't you just LOVE words with double meanings? I'm still laughing at what "fanny" means in Oz, too!