I found “Tea” really confusing when I first moved here — in fact there is a whole dinner etiquette thing at Australian Parties that I’ll post on next week.

Thanks for your post, Sara!

@ Wayno — thanks for your post — you’ve hit on a number of Aussie terms. For example your name, typically Aussie nick name to add an “o” on the end. Or an “azza”!

Aussies also always want to say “Canadia” (instead of Canada) not sure why, I think it is easier for them to say and it’s a cross between “Canadian” and “Canada”. Since living here though, to my shock and horror, I have caught myself nearly saying it at times!

Not sure all of our readers will agree with you on your p.o.v. about all Americans–but I’m sure everyone will love your natural use of nearly all slang!

Thanks for reading! Alysha

Lunch order – most schools have a canteen where the students can purchase a hot lunch in advance in the mornings. Lunch order money is collected in brown paper bags and delivered to the canteen usually around 9 am there are lunch order monitors in most classrooms.

Rubbish – is garbage or trash, and goes in the bin (garbage or trash can)

The Roll – attendance for the classroom

My one, or Your one – will often be said instead of “mine: or “yours”

Bickie – short for biscuit, ,meaning cookie

Pips – said instead of pits, like orange pits, or peach pits

Tea – often used to describe dinner unless it is called “morning tea” in which case that’s a coffee break in the morning time.

Boy, are those ticket checkers ever alive and well. I wonder what percentage of the ticket price they earn?

+ (specifically in Melbourne) ‘Connie’ = tram conductor (now extinct) or ticket inspector (very much alive).

welcome to our site.

I’m not sure I fully understand your comment, so please let me know if I’ve misinterpreted it. But here is what I think you’re saying…

I think you are suggesting that “cracker” is only a North American term.

But it sounds like you are criticizing something at the same time–is it:

A) my seemingly narrow interpretation of “elsewhere” –does this come across as egocentric, do I sound as though I am suggesting Canada and the US are the only “elsewhere”? That isn’t what I meant. I am of the opinion that given the predominance of even American movies (at the very least) the term “cracker” is now well known beyond North America.

or

B) Are you more familiar than I with the history of the term “cracker”? If so, please share what you are really thinking about this comment!

Thanks for visiting and for the engaging comment.

Alysha

Elsewhere? Such as Canada, the US and errr…..errrrrr…….

What Canadians call “flip-flops” (sandals) are known as “thongs” in Australia.

It makes for a few awkward (or moments that bring you closer to someone!) in conversation if you don’t know this. Which is what happened to me…

When I’d only been here a few months, an Aussie friend was relaying a very cold experience she had in Canada, when she went to a hockey game in “just my thongs”.

Trying not to be judgmental I simply said, “Oh…that must have been really cold on your bottom.”

Imagine my embarrassment when this 55 year old respectable woman, looked at me as if I had just said something inappropriate!

“My bottom?! I spent the whole game with my feet in my purse.”

As for the word for G-String Underwear? I have no idea, we simply don’t talk about it.

synonyms for bogan: Yobo; redneck;

PS: a sheila is actually the term for a female kangaroo. It’s a very slang and I think derogatory way to refer to a woman.

Fleur – A Fairdinkum Aussie

“Pot” = half the size of a pint of beer

“Hot Chips” = French Fries (they will stare at you)