How to Speak Like an Aussie: Part I

A few weeks ago Jenny expressed her worry that I would come back and be speaking "Aussie speak." In light of this travesty, I thought I would include a translation guide--in case anyone else was worried they wouldn't be able to comprehend me when I return.

Most people have heard about putting "chooks on the barbie," meaning "chickens on the barbecue". If you haven't, now you have. Almost everyone that has spoken to me in the past 8 months has heard that "heaps" has replaced "a lot." But here's a list of some more that I might throw out in conversation.

Bottle-O: replaces the term liquor store, but that same thing. Although many Bottle-Os have a drive-thru. That's something the USA certainly doesn't boast...and we have drive-thru everything else.

Rock up: Instead of saying "show up." For example, "They might rock up later" or "she rocked up at the bar later." For a long time I thought it was "ruck up" and thought it was a term that came from rugby...

Dunny: The outdoor toilet and heaps of them exist. I used one all weekend in KI. I had a great view of the water as I did my business.

Biscuit: It is used for crackers and cookies. Sometimes shortened to "bickies." Don't make the mistake of saying cookies again....

Bogan: Our version of the term "hick." These kind of people are from the back water. You know the kind I speak of.

Tea: Not just what you drink, but also replaces the term "supper" or "dinner." I am often confused with this one.

Dero: A derelict or bum. You can also call "wiggers" deros or pretty much applies to any loser. Generally they are broken or run-down in some way. As Shannon says, like a derelict building.

Yiros: Gyros. Why they write it differently...I don't know.

Mackers: What they call McDonalds for short. Much like our Mickie D's or Mac Do's.

Chips: This applies to fries. But there are also large chips called wedges. Potato chips are either called chips or crisps...depending. Chips are way better than fries and wedges are HEAVEN.

Barrack: What we would say "to root" when we root for our favourite team. Here "root" means "sex" so things get a little messy if you use the work. Stick to barrack. I barrack for Port. Thanks to Shannon.

Chuffed: HAPPY

Stuffed: used for tired. I'm pretty stuffed right now actually.

Servo: The place where you go to get PETROL, not "gas." Much like our "gas stations," you can get all sorts of other goodies at the servo, like gourmet coffee.

Salvo: Salvation Army. Sounds similar to Servo so sometimes I get a momentarily confused.

Chemist: You don't go to the pharmacy or drug store. You just DON'T.

Capsicum: Green pepper, red pepper. We often call them bell peppers. Yeah, those.

Sultanas: Sultana Bran? We'd call it raisin bran, but not here. It's strictly all about sultanas, though they are the same thing. The name doesn't change the taste in my opinion.

Chuck a spaz: Throw a "shitfit" or just throw any kind of fit actually.

So much for English-Speaking being the same....