Last call for Australianisms.

[clo_again]

Flatmate that's going to Australia for a year to study is leaving Friday and I'm still putting together a quick list of words and things she should know, via the Aussies on my f-list. Are there any words or expressions you can think of that I could put in? I don't know, like the Americans call a 'pavement' a 'sidewalk' - what do you call in Oz? Anything like that. :)

Comments

[icefalcon.livejournal.com]

Ooh, what part of Australia? There are 'regional differences' in slang. But hey, people love an English accent everywhere.

- My shout = I'm paying, I'll cover it, my turn to pay.
- It'll be right/she'll be right = appropriate in almost every scenario.
- Rhyming slang can crop up in strange places.
- A nickname can be formed for ANYONE by adding 'ie' or 'y' to the end of their name. Men use surnames, women use first names. More common for men. Particularly in sport. On the rare occasion that 'ie' isn't used, 'za' is. My brother Aaron becomes Azza, for example.
- Australians come up with long winded explanations of stuff, then will shorten important words with 'o' on the end. Arvo, for example.
- Ugg boots in Melbourne = not outside the house.
- Melbourne? Four seasons in one day isn't a joke. It's a fact.
- Goon = cask wine. Cheap cask wine. <3
- Cadbury = only takes a glass and a half (to get them drunk).
- Trackie dacks = tracksuit pants, dacks = pants.

Also, I don't know if this is purely Australian thing, but I had this pointed out to me by an American the other day at work. 'Hi, how's it going' is merely an extended version of hello. It's not an actual query. The response is 'good thanks' or a nod - if you feel you must make a response, one isn't really needed - and that's about it. No one on either side thinks about saying or answering the question.

[clo.livejournal.com]

YAAAAAY!! *dances and snuggles* All this is awesome, thank you so much. :-D

She's going to Brisbane but she's planning on spending some time in Melbourne over the summer too. I am green with envy, though I'd probably just whine about the heat all summer if I went. ;)

She loved the list. Thank you! *hugs some more*