Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Aussie-isms



I was chatting with Hannah the other day and she very wisely said, “Isn’t it funny how we speak the same language but use different words for everything?”  She was referring to me saying “gas” instead of “petrol” for the car.  It was a perfect example of the all-encompasing nature of language and culture and how you can’t learn one without the other.  On that note, I decided to list some of the terms they use here down under that differ from ours up north.  Feel free to post any others you think of!

American                                             Australian
Beets                                                   Beet Root
Napkins                                               Servilletes
Chicken                                               Chook
Shopping Cart                                     Trolley
Vacation                                              Holiday
I think                                                 I reckon
Take a look                                          Have a look
Gas                                                      Petrol (pronounces “Peh-trol with emphasis on peh)
Flip flops                                             Thongs
Sneakers                                               Trainers

No comments:

Post a Comment