G' Day! When it's your first time in Australia, you'll realize soon enough that Australian—or Aussies, as they'd prefer to be called—waste no time. Especially in their speech. The major language is English, brought ashore of course by the Brits, but it's as if you'll be hearing a different kind of English, a rather jollier, if not more time-saving brand. For starters, they've reduced it "Strine", which, admit it, has a nicer ring to it.
No, mate, Australians, er, I mean Aussies, aren't exactly pressed for time. But somehow, shortening words seems to be the most logical thing to do in a land where the endless list of fun things to do leaves you practically speechless.
In Australia, afternoons become arvo, a journalist is abbreviated into a journo, and a beer turns into coldie. A garbo (or garbologist) is a municipal garbage collector, a mosqui is a mosquito, a ute is a utility truck, a polly is a politician, while togs is a swimsuit. Still with us, so far?
Barbie is for barbecue, brekkie is for breakfast, chewie is chewing gum, chokkie is chocolate, and kindie is kindergarten—where they presumably teach these things to little kids. Kidding.
So in Australia, you say "Ace!" when you mean something is very good, "Fair dinkum" for something true and genuine, "Mind your own bizzo" for, well, mind your own business, and "hooroo" for goodbye.
And when you're in a bar ordering piss (that's beer) and roo (kangaroo) served with dead horse (tomato sauce), and your mate (buddy) tips you off that it's "exy", better get ready for your wallet. It's expensive, but very ace!
Oh well, this article can blab all it wants about Australian slang, but it'd be nicer if you just flew right in here on the first plane you can catch, and learn Strine first-hand?!
And oh, don't jump into conclusions when you hear that in Australia, people always wear thongs all the time. They do, all right, but they're just rubber sandals, not the abbreviated underwear you're thinking of.
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