For those of you who don't realize, I'm an Australian. We're an odd bunch down here at the bottom of the world. We use language differently (in some ways) and often people from other countries stare at you strangely if you use a colloquialism they don't understand, or god forbid, means something different in their part of the world.
Now I have to admit, I don't generally use a lot of slang in my everyday life. I don't say g'day mate, I say hi or hello. I don't intentionally include it in my books, but it does sometimes slip through and is often picked up in edits. I'm a bit of an oddity really because often, if I meet people who talk like say, Crocodile Dundee, I almost cringe. You see, I had a bit of a My Fair Lady (Pygmalion) aspect to my childhood. When I was growing up I had elocution lessons, because my mother insisted I speak like a lady. If you're unsure what elocution is I'll give you the nutshell version. Learning proper diction, prose, gestures and stance mainly pertaining to giving speeches. Very old fashioned really. My mother used to glare at me when I'd tell my friends I was 'learnin how ta talk proppa'. Anyway, that's all beside the point, it does, however, explain my lack of slang when it comes to speaking and the fact that, when I swear (like a lady does) I pronounce the words with perfect diction.
So onto the actual post for today. Australian Slang (pronounced Or-starl-ian slang). I found some examples that may be useful if you ever decide to visit down under and want to talk tot he local. Enjoy.
Lets start with gender:
Sheila or chick: a female.
Bloke: a male.
Mate: The unisex term for a friend, acquaintance or basically just another human being whether you know them or not. It's often added to greeting i.e. G'day, mate.
Names you may be called:
Dag: an affectionate term used to describe a person that's a bit unusual or eccentric/silly. It also means a piece of poo hanging from a sheep's bottom, but we don't tend to think of that meaning when used in relation to a person.
Bogan: This refers to a person that's not very smart or stylish. You really don't want to be called a bogan, it's not a compliment.
Whinger: Someone that likes to complain a lot, again it's not a compliment.
Sleaze: a person who is unpleasant, or makes unwanted sexual advances (usually male). We have a few down here and they are to be avoided. I tend to identify them by the physical symptoms that accompany their presence i.e the urge to vomit on their shoes and then run away to take a shower.
Places or events you may attend:
Arial Pingpong: AFL or Australian Rules football. This is a sprting activity that, personally, I refer to as soft porn. I do so because all the players wear really tight, skimpy shorts and tops that let you admire their totally to die for athletic bodies. The players generally have great firm asses, washboard abs, muscular shoulders, arms and legs. Unfortunately, I don't know what any of them actually look like because I never look at their faces.
Footy: Some form of football, including the game above. Other football codes include rugby league (NRL or National Rugby League), rugby (the rich cousin to the NRL) often referred to as rugger and soccer (yawn). Soccer holds no interest for me due to the fact that the players aren't big and burly Adonises who spend the game chasing whoever has the ball and physically tackling each other to the ground in a sexy, Neanderthal, masculine way.
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| Blackwood Hotel (Pub) in country Victoria. The town had a cafe, a post office and the pub. |
Pub: A bar /hotel that you may go to for a drink or a meal. Most pubs usually have good cheep meals and alcohol, which is often not so cheep. All Aussie towns have pubs, some have more than one. It's an odd Australian phenomenon that even little towns who don't have a bank, post office or even a doctor, will have a pub, sometimes two.
(As a side issue the following two references relate to what may happen if you visit a pub).
Booze/Grog: This refers to alcohol, sold at the above establishments and lot and lots of other places in Australia because traditionally we're a country of drinkers. If someone ask do you want to go to the local boozer they are asking you out to the local pub.
Gutted, maggoted, para, blind, slaughtered, pissed off his/her head, shit-faced: These are all terms that you apply to you if you go to the pub and have to much to drink and get drunk. Even though I don't often use a lot of slang I have been shit-faced a few time in my life.
Barbie: This has nothing to do with a tiny waist, big boobed doll that has taken over the world, it's the shortened word for barbecue. So if someone says do you want to have a barbie while you're here it's safe to say yes. A lot of Aussie barbies are BYO meaning bring your own often grog but sometimes also meat.
Bog/Dunny/Loo/Ladies/Gents: If someone tells you they are 'off too' any of these places don't follow them, unless that's you're personal kink, they are going to the toilet/bathroom.
Other stuff:
Snag: This is not a sensitive new age gentleman it's a sausage, and you throw it on the barbie, along with your prawn (or shrimp) if you're so inclined.
Root/Shag: If someone wants to root or shag you then it means they want to have sex. They're both such romantic terms.
Wombat: Yes, this is a fury marsupial but it's also a man you need to avoid. If a bloke is a wombat it means he's not marrying or really even dating material. He likes to use women. The term refers to a male who eats, roots, shoots and leaves (think about it).
Donger: A penis. So, if for some reason you decided to have sex with the above, make sure he has a big donger.
Pull ya head in: if your told to do this it means mind your own business.
Hang on: Unless you're dangling from a cliff by your fingernails this means can you wait a minute.
That stinks: This statement has nothing to do with odor, it means something is bad or you don't like it.
She'll be right. This statement often includes the word mate at the end. She'll be right, mate. It means it will be alright or we can fix it.
G'day: Hello
No worries: There is nothing to worry about, it's okay. It can also mean, yes, I'll do that. (i.e Q: Will you fix the loo for me? A: Now worries, mate.)
Off your rocker: This refers to a person who is behaving abnormally or crazy.
Well that's all I can think of for now, there are literally hundreds of terms, some more popular than others. Have you heard or read anything, words or phrases, that have confused you when you've been reading an Aussie author's book, or on the net talking to an Aussie?
Feel free to list favorite words or phrases or ask what something means by leaving a comment.
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