AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH: Grammar, vocabulary and style features
Australian English is the dominant variety of English spoken in Australia. It developed primarily from 18th-19th century British English, with influences from Irish English, indigenous Australian languages, later immigrant communities (Greek, Italian, Chinese, etc.), and American English (especially in media and technology). Despite regional accents being relatively similar, Australian English has distinctive vocabulary, pragmatic norms, and informal usage patterns.
VOCABULARY FEATURES
Distinctive Australian vocabulary
Australian English is rich in informal and colloquial vocabulary, often used even in semi-formal contexts.
• arvo = afternoon
See you this arvo.
• brekkie = breakfast
Let's grab brekkie.
• servo = petrol station
Stop at the servo.
• mozzie = mosquito
The mozzies are bad tonight.
• esky = portable cooler
Put the drinks in the esky.
• thongs = flip-flops
Wear thongs to the beach.
• ute = utility vehicle
He drives a ute.
Diminutives ending in -ie / -o are especially characteristic:
• barbie (barbecue)
• postie (postal worker)
• bottle-o (liquor store)
Indigenous loanwords
Australian English includes many words from Aboriginal languages, often referring to flora, fauna, or cultural concepts.
• kangaroo = native marsupial
• boomerang = throwing tool
• billabong = waterhole
• dingo = wild dog
• corroboree = ceremonial gathering
British vs American influence
Many words in Australian English are also used in British English. Some examples include:
petrol, flat, high street, mobile (which would be
gas, apartment, main street, cell phone in the US).
Other words (those in the minority) are the same as in the US, but different from the ones used British English. Notable examples are
truck, eggplant, pant, vest. With globalization, some American terms that were formerly not used in Australia are becoming more common.
Spelling tends to follow British conventions:
→ colour, centre, organise
GRAMMAR FEATURES
Australian English grammar is largely standard, but some features stand out in usage.
Collective nouns
Collective nouns are usually treated as singular:
• The team is winning.
(This contrasts with British English, where plural agreement is common.)
Informal question forms
Elliptical and reduced forms are common in speech:
• You right? (Are you okay?)
• All good?
• Want a hand?
Use of “Yeah, no” / “No, yeah”
Discourse markers are a well-known feature:
“Yeah, no” = polite disagreement or correction
Yeah, no, I don't think that's right.
“No, yeah” = agreement after consideration
No, yeah, that makes sense.
Tag questions
Frequent use of informal tags "eh?" and "yeah?"
Example:
"Pretty hot today, yeah?"
STYLE AND USAGE FEATURES
Informality and egalitarian tone
Australian English favors a casual, non-hierarchical style, even in professional contexts.
• First names are used quickly
• Formal titles are often avoided
• Over-politeness can sound distant or insincere
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
Australian English has less regional variation than British or American English, but differences do exist.
Pronunciation
Rather than regional dialects, Australia is often described as having three accent types:
Broad = Strong Australian accent
General = Most common (Example: newsreaders)
Cultivated = Closer to British English, often heard in older elite speakers
Vocabulary variations
Some examples:
SWIMSUIT: NSW - swimmers; QLD - togs; VIC, WA, SA - bathers
SUITCASE: QLD - port
GLASS OF BEER: VIC, TAS - pot; NSW - schooner; WA - middy
PROCESSED LUNCHEON MEAT: WA - polony; NSW - devon; SA - fritz; VIC - (sometimes) berliner
WATER FOUNTAIN: QLD - bubbler
FOOTPATH: VIC - nature strip; WA: verge
Remote and regional areas often use more Indigenous loanwords and local place-based terminology
