So, you’re an American moving to Australia? Or maybe you’ve already made the move and are finding that some things just don’t seem quite right. Well, have no fear! This guide is here to help make the transition a little bit smoother. Australian English is actually quite different from American English, but with a little practice, you’ll be speaking like a local in no time! Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between the two dialects.
One of the first things you’ll notice is that Australian English has a lot more slang than American English. This can be a bit daunting at first, but don’t worry – most Australians are more than happy to explain what a particular piece of slang means. And even if they don’t know the meaning, they’ll definitely get a good chuckle out of hearing an American try to use it! Here are some examples of popular Australian slang:
- G’day mate! This is probably the most well-known piece of Australian slang and is used as both a greeting and farewell.
- She’ll be right mate. This phrase is used to reassure someone that everything will be okay.
- Fair dinkum. This phrase is used to describe something that is genuine or true.
- Fossick around. This means to look for something, usually without much success.
- Have a go ya mug. This phrase is used to encourage someone to give something a try, even if they’re not sure they can do it.
Now that you’ve got a few examples of Australian slang under your belt, let’s move on to pronunciation. One of the most noticeable differences between Australian-English and American-English is the way certain words are pronounced. For example, the word How to learn 2nd Grade Spelling Words?“tomato” is pronounced “tuh-mah-to” in American English, but “tuh-mae-toh” in Australian English.
One final difference between Australian-English and American-English is the way certain words are spelled. This is probably the most difficult part of speaking Australian-English for Americans, as there are many words that are spelt differently Down Under. For example, the word “colour” is spelt “color” in American English, but “colour” in Australian English. Other words that have a different spelling in Australian English include “realise” (realize), “travelling” (traveling) and “centre” (center).
So there you have it – a quick guide to some of the key differences between Australian-English and American-English. With a little practice, you’ll be speaking like a local in no time!