Speaking Australian

Ann and I returned from our Australian adventure last week. Though many Americans and Aussies speak English, our ways of speaking are in some ways so different.

Australians (or Aussies) shorten words whenever they can. This doesn’t seem to be caused by a national habit of hurrying, quite the opposite. Maybe they’re just too laid back to say whole words. There’s Mellie (a person from Melbourne), brekkie (breakfast), Footy (Aussie football, sort of a cross between rugby and soccer), and so forth (choccie, Chrissie , specco, Tazzie… See vocabulary list below.) 

We watched the penguin parade, an event on Phillip’s Island where hundreds of penguins come on shore to breed and chirp each night. You might think Aussies would call these little penguins “pennies”, but they don’t. Oddly, they call them “little penguins.” When I first heard an Aussie used the phrase “little penguins,” I thought she was being affectionate. She wasn’t. The penguins were about a foot tall.

Aussies also like TLAs (three letter acronyms). The MCG, also abbreviated to “The ‘G (The Melbourne Cricket Ground) is Mellie’s giant footy stadium. The NGV is the National Gallery of Victoria, and the CBD is the Central Business District, where we stayed. (The NGV is in Mellie's CBD. The MCG is not far away.)

Then there are just different ways of saying and doing things. “Rockets” are arugula; “Give way” means yield. “Take away” is take out. Look both ways before crossing the street, and note they drive on the left. Also, if you’re riding your push bike, dismount and push it if the hill is too steep.

If someone apologizes, don’t say, “No problem.” Say, “No worries,” so they’ll understand you. Actually, say “No worries” no matter what they say. Then you’ll fit in. 

Vocabulary List (I’d love your additions.)
Aussie = Australian
Mellie = a person from Melbourne 
Footy = Australian rules football
Brekkie = Breakfast
Chrissie = Christmas 

Pressie=present
“No worries” = You’re welcome, no problem, Don’t worry about it 
Take away = Take out
Choccie = chocolate
Rockets = arugula 
The MCG = the Melbourne Australian rules footy stadium 
Give Way=Yield

Little penguins = Little penguins
NGV = National Gallery of Victoria
Specco = spectacular
Push bike= bike you pedal
Tazie = Tasmania 
Melb = Another Melbourne abbreviation
Take away = Take out
Cattle station = Ranch 
Costume = bathing suit
Jackaroo = a young man working on a sheep or cattle station to gain experience

Jillaroo = a young woman working on a sheep or cattle station to gain experience

Billabong= water hole

In the munga = In the boonies
Swag = a hobo’s roll (blanket rolled up)

Stuffie= Stuffed toy
Pokies = slot machines 
Spondooley = money (I think)
Zushy = swanky (sounds like Suchi)
Rabbit = a fool (I think)
The Big Smoke= Sydney (as a result of pollution during industrialization in the 1800s)
CBD = Central Business District (downtown)
“Yeah”= uh
Silver tails= richies = rich people
Jumbuck = sheep
Grub = booze
Grubs = worms eaten in the bush
Footpath = sidewalk
Banana hammock= men’s Speedo