Latest news with #AussieEnglish
SBS Australia
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
From barbies to banh mi: Aussie food slang explained
More resources for language educators Watch Weird and Wonderful Aussie English on SBS On Demand Howie: Have you ever been invited to an Aussie party and been told to 'bring a plate'? If that sounds strange, you're not alone. Aussie English can be weird — but there's always a reason behind it. So why do Aussies talk about eating the way they do? And how did all these unique food phrases become part of everyday life? Food is a beautiful, shared experience. Australia's diverse population has brought meals and food traditions from many cultures. Because of this, you'll hear lots of eating-related words that have evolved from different places. Sharing food is a big part of Aussie culture and mateship. Since the early 20th century, Australians have used the phrase 'bring a plate' — not because they're out of crockery, but because they're asking you to bring food to share. It doesn't have to be a literal plate. It could be a bowl of dessert, a salad, drinks — anything, really. The phrase goes back to community fundraisers and club events in the early 1900s. Instead of buying a ticket, guests were asked to bring a plate of food — often cake. By the 1920s, that became simply: 'bring a plate.' So if you're invited to a barbie, make sure to put some tucker on your plate. Barbie = barbecue Tucker = food (any kind) The snag (sausage) is the hero of many Aussie barbecues. It's also the centrepiece of election fundraisers — where it becomes a 'democracy sausage.' Australians love word shortenings. Research shows that around 4% of Australian English words are shortened forms. Why? Because shortening words feels informal and friendly — and that's how Aussies like to talk. It may come from 'flagon' (a big bottle of wine), or from 'goom,' another word for alcohol. Either way, it now refers to boxed wine — which Aussies also call: Boxie Box monster Cardy chardy Goon bag Goon sack We get creative with food, and even more creative with names for it. Food has always been tied to identity, class, and culture. Australia's earliest settlers and convicts were curious about Indigenous food — later called bush tucker. In 1864, Edward Abbott published the first Australian cookbook, featuring recipes for emu, kangaroo, and other native ingredients. Over time, traditional foods gave way to British and American dishes — even within many Indigenous communities. But after World War II, Australians began to embrace multicultural food more openly. Even when Aussies were hesitant to use other languages, they still used original names for many dishes: Nasi goreng, chop suey, goulash, and more. Australia's most iconic animal — the kangaroo — gets its name from the Guugu Yimidhirr language. But not all Indigenous words survived colonisation. The macadamia nut, for instance, was named after chemist John Macadam, even though Indigenous names like 'gumburra' and 'kindal kindal' were already in use. Today, we're embracing more migrant and Indigenous words than ever. Aussies often shorten borrowed food terms too: Spaghetti bolognese becomes spag bol Chicken parmigiana becomes… parma or parmi — depending on where you are Warning: Saying the 'wrong' version could spark a pub debate! Food can be fun — but it can also be political. Australians feel strongly about what we eat and what we call it. Terms like 'kebab' and 'halal snack pack' (HSP) have become part of the Aussie food experience. In fact, in 2016, halal snack pack won the People's Choice Award in the Macquarie Dictionary's Word of the Year. This love of food reflects how we welcome new people, cultures, and ideas — by sharing meals and language. We say 'bring a plate' not just to make parties easier to host — but to try everyone's favourite dish. From bush tucker to democracy sausages, and from goon bags to goulash, Aussie English is full of flavour. It's shaped by what we eat, how we live, and who we welcome to the table. And like every good meal — it's meant to be shared. Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Video production company: New Mac Video Agency Share this with family and friends
SBS Australia
13 hours ago
- General
- SBS Australia
The secret language of Aussie workplaces
More resources for language educators Watch Weird and Wonderful Aussie English on SBS On Demand 'Tall poppy! Get down here!' Howie: Have you ever worked in an Aussie office and noticed something… different? Meetings feel more like casual chats. And sometimes… swearing is totally fine. If you're new to Australia, you might ask: 'How should I speak at work?' Let's explore how Aussie attitudes shape the way people communicate at work — and what that says about the culture. One of the most important Aussie values is a fair go — the idea that everyone deserves an equal chance in life and at work. This value shows up everywhere: in sport, in school, and in the workplace. But Aussie culture is full of contradictions. We take fairness seriously, but we also love not taking ourselves too seriously. From construction sites to corporate offices, Aussies use slang, give nicknames, joke around — and yes, often swear. This casual tone reflects an older cultural fascination with folk heroes and the rough-and-tumble spirit. It's part of a long tradition of pushing back against authority — and laughing while doing it. Our modern idea of the Australian worker was shaped by WWI soldiers, known as diggers. While fighting overseas, diggers developed a strong national identity. They embraced the Aussie traits of mateship, humour, and equality. They loved bush poetry, chanted in slang, and didn't show much respect for generals or hierarchy. 'Mate' is a deeply positive word in Australia — but it can also be used in a not-so-friendly tone: 'Maaaate…' (when someone's annoyed). Aussies are famous for using 'bad' words in creative, often affectionate, ways. Swearing has long been part of jobs like soldiering, shearing, and cattle-driving. But even back then, people knew when to tone it down — especially around women or the boss. So yes, swearing happens — but Aussies also know when to keep it clean. 'Fair go' is so sacred, even politicians use it. But not always successfully. Sometimes Aussies don't buy it — especially if the message doesn't pass the pub test. 'Would a regular group of people at the pub believe this?' Aussies also have terms for people who don't seem fair. One of the worst things you can do? Be arrogant. Be a tall poppy. Originally, 'tall poppy' was about cutting down those who were too successful or full of themselves. By the mid-20th century, it also reflected a deeper insecurity — A sense that standing out made people cringe or feel like Australia wasn't good enough. That feeling is known as cultural cringe. Today, tall poppy syndrome still pops up — especially when someone is seen as 'too big for their boots.' While Aussies dislike arrogance, they also can't stand laziness. The term 'bludger' refers to someone who doesn't pull their weight. It's one of the most hated labels in Australian English. To be called a bludger is deeply insulting — and it reflects how much Aussies value hard work and contribution. Aussies have always loved folk heroes — and it shows in how we talk about work. We believe in equality, fairness, and calling things as they are. Even casual talk and swearing can be signs of inclusion — a way to say, 'We're all equals here.' 'I talk to the Prime Minister the same way I talk to my mate at the pub.' Aussie English is still evolving. Sometimes we get the balance wrong. But we can always start by welcoming people from around the world, valuing their voices, and learning from the words they bring. That's what helps Aussie English grow — and what makes the workplace a fairer, more inclusive place for everyone. Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Video production company: New Mac Video Agency
SBS Australia
13 hours ago
- Climate
- SBS Australia
Weather and words. Language and living
More resources for language educators Watch Weird and Wonderful Aussie English on SBS On Demand Howie: One day, my Aussie friend said to me, 'Just put it on the hills!' Then I realised — they meant The Hills Hoist. From my research, I've learned that Aussie English is shaped by how people live — the weather, the land, and the way we make ourselves at home. So why do Aussies talk about living the way they do? And what does it tell us about life in Australia? Aussie homes — and our weather — have shaped how we speak. Life in Australia can be harsh and varies across the country. In the Northern Territory, there's no winter — just different types of summer. To newcomers, Australian seasons might not make much sense. That's because the traditional seasons — summer, autumn, winter, spring — were imported from Europe. These seasons explain how the Earth moves, but they don't reflect what's really happening here — when flowers bloom, when crops should be harvested, or when to do controlled burns of bushland. Australia's Indigenous people had a 60,000-year head start observing nature. Many had their own seasonal calendars — two, six, even eight seasons. These Indigenous seasons are based on natural signs. Some last weeks, others span months. If you're interested, you can explore your local Indigenous knowledge sources. Living here means adapting — especially to the weather. You might hang your washing in the bright sun and get hit by rain 20 minutes later. The Hills Hoist has been a backyard staple since the mid-20th century. Many Aussies now use 'Hills' as shorthand for any clothes-drying. Fun fact: In 1945, Sherry Hill complained that traditional washing lines messed up her garden. Her husband Lance Hill created a new invention — and the Hills Hoist was born. Today we use it for drying clothes, party games, and more. Like our weather — and our slang — the Hills Hoist is always spinning. Aussies take pride in adaptability and hard work. One iconic word is 'swagman' (or 'swaggie') — a travelling worker from Australia's 19th and early 20th centuries. You might know them from the song Waltzing Matilda. Swagmen roamed from place to place looking for work, carrying all their belongings rolled up in a blanket, called a 'Matilda.' After a long day of waltzing — or walking — they'd cuddle up with their Matilda for the night. Australia is known for casual living — and that includes party timing. If the event is a backyard barbie or a park catch-up, the start time is often just a suggestion. If it's at a restaurant or formal venue, though — arrive on time. No matter the setting, Aussies love a good chat. And we have some great words for that too. The word 'yarn' likely started as a nautical term. By the mid-19th century, people in Australia and New Zealand used it to mean chatting or storytelling. For many Indigenous Australians, 'yarning' has a deeper cultural meaning. Since the 1980s, yarning circles have been a safe, respectful space for storytelling and knowledge sharing. Whether you call it a 'chinwag' or a 'yarn,' Australians love gathering to share stories in a welcoming place. It's part of what defines our culture — being flexible, open, and connected. From surviving extreme climates to inventing backyard icons like the Hills Hoist, Aussie living shapes Aussie language. Whether we're finding ways to deal with the weather or sitting down for a yarn, we share everything — from food to stories. And the most wonderful part? Everyone — from locals to migrants — can be part of it. We're all shaping and sharing this unique Australian way of life. Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Video production company: New Mac Video Agency
