Ruqayyah Snyder
Whether you're an actor taking on a new role or just looking to blend in with the locals, learning an Australian accent can be a fun challenge. The Australian accent is often characterised by drawn-out vowels, with the ah sound in that or hat sounding more like eh, as in egg. Aussies also tend to blend their words together, speaking more quietly and ending sentences with a rising inflection, even if it's not a question. While stereotypes like G'day mate and shrimp on the barbie might be overstated, they can still give you a fun place to start. So, how can you start sounding more Aussie?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The "ah" sound in words like "that" or "hat" | Sounds like the "eh" from "egg". So, "That hat" should sound like "Theht heht." |
| Aussies don't annunciate | Words blend together |
| End sentences with | "but", "as", "hey", or "aye" |
| End sentences with a rising inflection | Even if it's not a question |
| Aussies speak more quietly | No need to shout |
| "G'day mate" | Greeting |
| "How ya going" | "How are you doing?" |
| "Shrimp" | "Prawn" |
| "BBQs" | "Ingrained into the culture" |
| "Fosters" | Not Australian for "beer" |
| "G'day" | Say "O" |
| "Mate" | Say "have", but without the V |
| Chew your words | Speak faster |
| "Raise up lights" | Should sound like "razor blades" |
| "Tension is the enemy of good dialect work" | Ensure you're relaxed, especially in the neck, jaw, and tongue |
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What You'll Learn
Learn how to say 'G'day mate'
To sound Australian, there are several pronunciation and intonation changes you can make. Firstly, the "ah" sound in words like "that" or "hat" should be pronounced more like the "eh" sound in "egg". So, "that hat" would sound like "theht heht". Secondly, Australians tend not to annunciate as clearly as Americans, so practice chewing your words before you say them and blending the vowel sounds together. For example, the words "raise up lights" said very quickly together might sound like "razor blades" to an Aussie ear.
Another tip is to end sentences with words like "but", "as", "hey", or "aye". For instance, "The weather is cold as" or "Why didn't Tommo come to the party, hey?". You can also try ending sentences with a rising inflection, even if it's not a question. This means your voice should rise at the end of the sentence, as though you're a little surprised.
Now you're ready to learn how to say "G'day, mate". This is a common Australian greeting, used to mean "hello, friend". It's mostly used by men, though, and not so often by women. "G'day" can also be used to ask "how are you?" or to say "are you OK?" or "do you need help with that task?".
If you want to say "goodbye" in Australian, you can use "good on ya, mate", which can also be used sarcastically. For example, "You broke a surfboard again. Good on ya, mate". This phrase can also mean "you're welcome", "relax", or "well done".
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Draw out vowels, like in 'plain'
When it comes to perfecting an Australian accent, one of the key things to focus on is drawing out your vowels. This is a defining feature of the Australian accent, and it's especially noticeable when comparing it to the New Zealand accent. For example, when an Australian says the word "plain", they will draw out the "a" sound, so it stretches from "ah" to "eh" to "ie".
To really nail this, it's important to understand the nuances of vowel sounds in the Australian accent. For instance, the "ah" sound in words like "that" or "hat" should be pronounced like the "eh" in "egg", resulting in "theht heht". This takes practice, as it may feel unnatural at first.
Another example of drawing out vowels is the word "meow". Say it without the "m", and then try to make it one fluid sound instead of two. This will help you achieve the Australian pronunciation of the "ow" sound, which is often drawn out.
The "ay" sound in words like "mate" or "raise" is also drawn out, almost like you're saying "may-te" or "ray-ze". This may be easier to achieve if you break the word down into its individual sounds and then slowly blend them together, increasing your speed as you get more comfortable.
Additionally, when pronouncing the "uy" sound, as in "guy", simply leave out the "g" and focus on combining the remaining vowels smoothly. This is a common feature of the Australian accent, where vowels are blended together without much mouth movement, resulting in a unique, fluid sound.
Remember, achieving an authentic Australian accent requires relaxation, especially in the neck, jaw, and tongue. So, ensure you're tension-free and give those vowels a good stretch!
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Blend words together
When speaking with an Australian accent, it is common for words to blend together, with the ends of words sometimes being indistinguishable or cut off. This is often referred to as "chewing" your words. To achieve this effect, try speaking a little faster, which will cause words to blend together more naturally.
The Australian accent tends to be quite laid-back and casual, with a friendly tone. This can be reflected in the way words are pronounced, with a more relaxed approach to enunciation. For example, the phrase "got to" or "you've got to" becomes "gotta", and "ought to" becomes "oughta". Any phrase with the word "to" is often blended in this way.
Another example of word blending in Australian English is the use of "g'day" for "good day". Speaking faster and blending the words together can help to create this effect.
In addition to blending words with "to", other words are often abbreviated in Australian English. For example, "breakfast" becomes "brekkie", "afternoon" becomes "arvo", and "McDonald's" becomes "Maccas". These abbreviations are often created by shortening the word and adding "o", "i", "e", or "y".
The Australian accent also has a unique way of pronouncing certain vowels. For example, the "a" sound in "mate" includes a long "i" sound, so it sounds like "might". This is another example of chewing" your vowels, as the sound moves all around your mouth.
Finally, when pronouncing words with an "r" sound, the Australian accent often drops the "r", especially when it comes before a consonant or at the end of a word. For example, "hard" becomes "hahd", and "baritone" becomes "bah-ritone".
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End sentences with 'but', 'as', 'hey' or 'aye'
To speak with an Australian accent, there are several tips you can follow. Firstly, Australians tend to draw out their vowels. For example, the word "plain" would sound like "plah-eh-ihn", with the "a" sound stretching from "ah" to "eh" to "ie". Similarly, "fish and chips" would become "feesh and cheeps".
Next, when pronouncing words like "that" or "hat", the "ah" sound should be replaced with an "eh", so "that hat" becomes "theht heht". This takes practice, so don't be discouraged if you don't master it right away!
Another important aspect of the Australian accent is the tendency to blend words together without clear annunciation. Aussies speak more quietly than some other cultures, and their words tend to blend together, with less mouth movement.
Now, let's focus on those sentence endings. Australians often end sentences with "but", "as", "hey", or "aye". For example, "The weather is cold as", or "Why didn't Tommo come to the party, hey?". This is a great way to add an Aussie flavour to your speech.
Additionally, Australians often use a rising inflection at the end of sentences, even when they're not asking a question. This gives a slight tone of surprise to statements. So, keep these tips in mind, relax your neck, jaw, and tongue, and give it a go! You'll be sounding like a true Aussie before you know it, mate!
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Warm up your voice effectively
Warming up your voice is an important step in preparing to speak with an Australian accent. Actor-director and dialect coach Paul Ricciardi advises that "tension is the enemy of good dialect work", so it's important to ensure you're relaxed, especially in the neck, jaw, and tongue.
To effectively warm up your voice, you should focus on articulation and breath control. This will help your brain and mouth prepare for the unusual pronunciations and vowel sounds that characterise the Australian accent.
- Practice saying "good eye might" faster and faster, blending the words together. Eventually, it will sound like you're saying "G'day mate" with an Aussie accent.
- Try saying "raise up lights" faster and faster. It should start to sound like "razor blades" in an Australian accent.
- Work on your vowel sounds. For example, say "have" without the "v" so it sounds like "hae". Or say "meow" without the "m", emphasising a smooth blend of the vowel sounds.
- Practice drawing out your vowels, as Australians tend to do. For example, the word "plain" might sound like "plah-eh-ih-n" to an Australian speaker, with the "a" sound stretching from "ah" to "eh" to "ie".
- Focus on relaxing your tongue to help with the unique pronunciations. For instance, the "ah" sound in "that" or "hat" should sound like the "eh" in "egg", so "that hat" becomes "theht heht".
- Practice ending sentences with a rising inflection, even if it's not a question. Australians often use a rising tone at the end of sentences, as if they're expressing surprise.
Remember, the key to mastering these warm-up exercises is to relax and blend those vowel sounds smoothly.
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Frequently asked questions
Blend the words together and say them faster and faster. Eventually, it will sound like you're saying "G'day mate" with an Aussie accent.
The "ah" sound in "that" and "hat" should sound like the "eh" in egg. So, "that hat" should sound like "theht heht".
Australians tend to draw out their vowels. For example, "plain" would sound like "plah-eh-ihn". Also, Australians don't annunciate as much as Americans, so try to blend your words together.
End sentences with "but", "as", "hey", or "aye". For example, "The weather is cold as" or "Why didn't Tommo come to the party, hey?".
