The Downunder Dictionary - the Guide to the Most Common Words & Phrases in Australian Strine
Most Australians do, in fact, speak a different sort of English. Here is Goway's guide to some of the most common words and phrases in "Strine" (Australian)
Some of the lingo has its roots in the rhyming slang of London's Cockney. For instance, "let's hit the frog and toad" really means "let's get on the road". Some people say that Aussies talk through their noses, giving a nasal twang to their words. Others say Australians have developed lazy speech habits such as not opening their mouths or moving their lips sufficiently. But, of course, none of this is true as exemplified by the following:
| "Oweryerdoon, orrite?" | How are you doing, all right? |
| "Egg nishner" | Air conditioner |
| "Scettin' lairder" | It's getting louder |
| "Emma Chisit?" | How much is it? |
| "Gloria Soame" | Glorious home |
To talk Strine, another good tip is to simply shorten a long word and then add a vowel on the end, eg. barbecue becomes "barbie" and afternoon becomes "arvo".
Don't be alarmed if you do not remember all of the above. If you speak "regular" English, you will probably be understood. If you don't understand someone talking to you in Strine, just tell them where you are from and ask them to repeat what they said.
Words beginning with:
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