Language

English, laced with Australian slang and accent known as ''Strine'', is the language of most Australians. Besides "Strine", usage of native languages among the indigenous and ethnic minorities is common.

To the American ear, "Strine" is a shared language sprinkled with a curious and comical mix of sounds and phrases with different, even opposite, meanings than those spoken and heard back home.

In "Strine" words run together, are clipped short mispronounced spoken rapidly, have no "r"s and flattened out vowels. It's altogether impossible to understand, especially if any alcohol is influencing the conversation, unless you're another Australian. At least "Strine" is not complicated by regional variations of speech, which is slight.

A few definitions and translations follow:

Bonzer: Good.

Bush: The rural areas; the Outback. If someone says "he's gone bush", he or she means that person has traveled to the countryside.

Chook: Chicken

Croiky: Gosh; gee whiz

Cozzie: Bathing suit

Digger: Australian soldier

Fair Dinkum: True, real, honest.

G'day: Good Day; the common greeting. Australians rarely say hello. It's usually
"g'day" or "owyagoin?". They never say goodbye either. It's "seeya layda" (see you
later).

Holiday: Vacation

Hotels: Pubs, bars.

Mate: Friend, buddy.

Meat Pie: A meal as common in Australia as the hamburger is in the USA.

Milk Bar: Sort of like a 7-11, but not franchised.

Ocker: A person like a ''bubba"; a genuine Aussie; more Paul Hogan than Greg Norman.

Oz: Short for Australia.

Shout: Buy

Tomato Sauce: Ketchup.

Tucker: Food.

Porn: English person, usually a derogatory reference.