Talking Aussie

Almost all Australians speak English, although immigrants often use their native languages at home and in their social clubs. The Aboriginal people once had more than 250 languages, but only about 50 have survived in teachable form.

Australians use some terminology not used in other English speaking cultures, such as:

• rubbish (garbage)
• over the road (across the street)
• rubber (eraser)
• car bonnet (the hood of a car)
• car boot (the trunk of a car)

Australians have also introduced their own colloquialisms and idioms, such as 'no worries, mate' (no problem, pal), and 'prang' (an auto collision). Australians make great use of diminutives, shortening words such as university to 'uni', kindergarten to 'kindy', and television to 'telly'.

See Aussie-speak for more on Australian language.