Crikey! Mastering the Aussie Accent
G’day Mate! Ever found yourself perplexed by the melodic twang and unique slang of the Australian dialect? Well, you’re not alone. Mastering the Aussie accent will fill you with laughter, confusion, and a surprising amount of satisfaction.
With a background of some of the most diverse languages in the world, Australia is home to a variety of dialects that are as unique as they are interesting. With just a few small changes, you too can nail that world-renowned fair dinkum Aussie accent.
Outback Origins
The Australian language pre-dates colonisation, with First Nations people sharing over 250 languages and around 800 dialects across Australia and Torres Strait. British colonisation after 1788 led to a sudden shift in language, beginning with the penal colonies of convicts, where the ‘flash language’, a form of British slang, was introduced to the vernacular.
Following years of migration shifts, including the Gold Rush era, mining, and industrial waves that brought in immigrants from across the globe, the Australian language formed into the one we know and love today.
The Gold Rush era saw an influx in immigrants to Australia.
Image by Thomas Ham through the State Library of Victoria
Embrace the Slang
First, you need to get comfortable with some iconic Aussie phrases. Here are a few to get started:
G’day: Your all-purpose greeting. Use it liberally.
Crikey: An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. Think of it as the Aussie equivalent of “Oh my gosh!”
Fair Dinkum: This means genuine or true. If something’s fair dinkum, it’s the real deal.
Mate: A friendly way to refer to someone. Everyone’s a mate in Australia.
Efficiency is Key
Despite our laid-back and fun-loving nature, Australians love a good, efficient language. It’s not uncommon for everyday words to be shortened in order to buy back some of that all-important surfing time. Some examples include:
Gunna: The shorter way of saying “going to.”
Maccas: McDonalds – a fast food staple from the US.
Spag Bol: Spaghetti Bolognese
Ciggie: Cigarette
C’mon: Shortened “Come on”
Howzat?: Meaning ‘how is that?’ or ‘how was that?’
Even occupations such as garbage man and postman are also shortened into ‘garbo’ or ‘postie’. You can try it with names too! Most names are lovingly shortened by friends and family, plus gifted the ‘Aussie vowel’ at the end. Think of names like David (Dave-o), Sharon (Shazz-a), and Rebecca (Beck-y). You can shorten nearly every noun into something much more efficient, even at the expense of it making sense to the rest of the English-speaking world.
Aussies love having a good ‘yarn’ over a drink or two!
Photo by Elevate at Pexels.com
Stranger Things (And Sounds!)
There are several Australian dialects spoken by the gen-pop, but you’ll most often find Australians speaking with a unique use of vowels. Many vowels are often extended and drawn out, such as Australia (AWE-stralia), fine (FOI-ne) or no (NOAR). Whereas other vowels are short, and more exaggerated than those in British English.
The Aussie accent has a distinct nasal quality. Imagine you have a cold and try to speak with your nose slightly pinched. It might feel silly at first, but it’s an integral part of nailing the accent. Practice saying some of the above examples whilst pinching your nose.
Slow it right down
Australians are known for their laid-back lifestyle, and this is reflected in their speech. Slow it down, mate. There’s no rush. Speak leisurely and don’t stress too much about enunciation. Instead of “I’m going to go to the store,” you’d say, “I’m gunna go to the store.”
Drop the R
Australian English is mostly ‘non-rhotic.’ This means that in Aussie English, the “R” sound at the end of words or often disappears. For instance, ‘car’ becomes ‘c-AH’ and ‘here’ becomes ‘he-AH.’
Imagine that you’re trying to say a word that ends in R but you’re also eating a marshmallow! Practice with phrases like, “I left my c-AH keys ov-AH the-EH’ and see how quickly you can nail that Aussie accent.
Aussie Classics
To really experience the total immersion of Australian accents, settle in for some classic Australian movies or TV shows that really put our accent on the map. Movies like ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ alongside shows such as ‘Neighbours,’ or ‘Home and Away’ will have you copying in no time. Not only will it improve your linguistic endeavours, but it’s a great excuse to binge watch some classic series to pass the time.
Australian language is all about the laid-back and positive attitude.
Photo by Rafa Barros at Pexels.com
Have a laugh
The most important step to achieving that Aussie accent is to enjoy it. Australia wouldn’t be what it is today without some good old Aussie larrikin lifestyle, with jokes and laughing at oneself imperative to the Aussie experience. The Australian accent is just as much about attitude as it is about getting the right pronunciation.
So, there you have it! With some practice, a little patience, and a relaxed attitude, she’ll be right! Good on ya for giving it a good crack. You’ll be sounding like a fair dinkum Aussie in no time.
