Damon Mcknight
Australian English is full of slang and has a distinct accent. While it may be challenging to learn, there are some tips and tricks to help you sound like a true Aussie. Firstly, it's important to note that Australian English is closer to British English than American English, and there are different accents across the country. To sound Australian, you should aim for a lazy, laid-back tone, with sentences flowing together and words sometimes indistinguishable or cut off. Abbreviate words, drop the t at the end of words, and replace formal words with casual ones. Blending words is also common, like gotta instead of got to. The “a” sound often becomes like an i, and the “ah” sound in that or hat becomes like the eh in egg. The Australian accent also has an upward inflection, turning statements into questions, and a nasal tone, which can be achieved by smiling while speaking.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Slang | "G'day, mate", "How ya goin'?", "No worries", "having a blue", "doovalacky", "reckon", "budgie smugglers", "yobbo", "sheila", "bloke", "shrimp on the barbie", "outback", "crook", "mob", "razor blades", "gotta", "gonna", "shoulda", "oughta" |
| Accent | "No" sounds like "nar"; drop the "t"s at the end of words, e.g. "right" sounds like "roigh"; "a" sounds like "i", e.g. "no way, mate" sounds like "no w-ay-e m-aye-ght"; "ah" sounds like "eh", e.g. "that hat" sounds like "theht heht"; chew words before speaking them; speak with a nasal twang; raise pitch at the end of words; intrusive "r", e.g. "draw it" sounds like "drawer it"; drawl; slower speech pattern; longer diphthongs |
| General language | Abbreviate words; use casual language; speak with a smile |
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What You'll Learn
Australian accents vary depending on location and upbringing
Australian English is influenced by Aboriginal languages, with Aussies regularly using more than 400 Aboriginal words in everyday life. For example, the term “billabong" comes from the language of the Wiradjuri people in New South Wales and describes a pool of water left behind when a river changes course or when flood waters recede. Additionally, due to the large number of Irish settlers in Australia by 1900, Irish slang also became a part of the Australian way of speaking.
Australian accents also vary depending on location. Accents closer to cities tend to resemble British or American accents, while accents from rural areas are more typically associated with the "broad" Australian accent. While it may be difficult to distinguish someone from Sydney versus Perth by their accent, it is possible to tell if they are from an urban or rural area.
To speak like an Australian, it is important to embrace the laid-back and casual nature of the language. Australians use a lot of slang and abbreviations in their everyday speech. For example, “G'day, mate" is a common greeting, and "how ya goin'?" means "how are you doing?". Additionally, phrases like "got to" or "you've got to" are often blended and shortened to "gotta," and "ought to" becomes "oughta."
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The 'broad' accent is most recognisable to non-Australian English speakers
The Australian accent and slang are unique and instantly recognisable to non-Australian English speakers. The accent and slang vary depending on where a person is from, but there are some general rules to follow to help you sound more Aussie.
Firstly, the Australian language is quite lazy. Sentences flow together, and words are shortened or indistinguishable from one another. For example, "got to" or "you've got to" becomes "gotta", and "ought to" becomes "oughta".
Secondly, when pronouncing long "o" sounds, like the word "no", say it like "nar" with an A-O sound. Drop the "t"s off the end of words, so "right" sounds like "roigh". The "'a' sound also changes to an 'i' sound, so "no way, mate" sounds more like "no w-ay-e, m-aye-ght".
Thirdly, the "ah" sound in words like "that" or "hat" becomes more like the "eh" sound in "egg", so those words sound like "theht" and "heht". This takes practice, so listen to native speakers as often as possible and mimic their speech patterns.
Finally, chew your words before you say them. Australians don't annunciate like Americans and keep their mouths less open, so words blend together. Add a nasal twang by smiling when you practice, and raise the pitch of your voice towards the end of words.
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Slang is common in Australian English
Australian English is full of slang, and Aussies are known for their laid-back and casual use of the language. The Australian language is also described as "lazy", with words and sentences flowing together, and some endings indistinguishable or cut off.
There is an abundance of slang in everyday Australian language. For example, everyone is your "mate", and you might be having a blue instead of fighting. You can also use doovalacky to describe something you can't think of the name of. The use of slang is a way for Australians to show they are comfortable with the language and makes them sound more like a real Aussie.
Australian English also includes blended words like "gotta" ("got to"), "gonna" ("going to"), and "shoulda" ("should have"). This blending also occurs with phrases like "you've got to", becoming "gotta".
There are three main classifications of the Australian accent: broad, general, and cultivated. The "broad" accent is the most recognizable to non-Australian English speakers, and is often the accent used in non-Australian media. It is associated with the working class and has a slower speech pattern with longer diphthongs. The "general" accent is spoken by most Australians, and the "cultivated" accent sounds more British.
Australian slang is influenced by a mix of diverse cultures, history, and heritage. There are around 80 Aboriginal languages in Australia, and Aussies regularly use more than 400 Aboriginal words in their everyday language. Irish slang is also a significant part of the Australian way of speaking, influenced by the more than 300,000 Irish settlers who had immigrated to Australia by 1900.
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Australians have a reputation for being laid-back and casual
A good place to start is with some Australian slang. Aussies call their friends "mate," for example, and they might say they're "having a blue" instead of "fighting" or use "doovalacky" when they can't think of the name of something. They also tend to abbreviate everything and blend words together, like "gotta" instead of "got to" or "gonna" instead of "going to." This can give the impression that they're not enunciating clearly, but it's all part of the casual Aussie vibe.
The Australian accent itself can vary depending on where someone is from. The "broad" accent, associated with the working class and more common in rural areas, is the one most non-Australians recognize, as it's often used in the media. It's characterized by a slower speech pattern and a more nasal tone. The "general" accent is the one most Australians speak, and it sounds like Hugh Jackman's accent. The "cultivated" accent, which is rarer, sounds more British; Cate Blanchett has this accent.
If you want to sound Australian, the best thing to do is listen to native speakers and mimic their speech patterns. Try watching unscripted Australian television or checking out YouTube channels like Aussie English. And don't forget to smile when you speak, as Aussies are known for their friendliness!
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To perfect an Australian accent, listen and mimic native speakers
To perfect an Australian accent, you'll need to listen to and mimic native speakers. This is how you can do it:
Listen to recordings of native Australian speakers and try to copy them. Focus on the sounds they make rather than the words they're saying, and pay attention to the shape your mouth makes. Notice how Australians don't open their mouths very much and their words blend together. When you want to use your own words, remember the shape of your mouth and tongue when you were mimicking. Practice with recordings of people speaking naturally, rather than exaggerating the accent.
Listen to unscripted Australian television shows to hear natural pronunciation and ways of speaking.
Talk to native Australians as much as possible to get a feel for the flow of a conversation and the natural rhythm of their speech.
If you're an actor, you can try to mimic the Australian accent of a specific person, like Kate Winslet in "The Dressmaker" or Dev Patel in "Lion".
Remember that Australian English is full of slang, and that there are different accents in different parts of the country. Accents closer to the city tend to resemble British or American accents, while the "real" Australian accent is more commonly found outside of Sydney.
- Long "o" sounds, like in the word "no", can be pronounced like "nar" with an A-O sound.
- Drop the "t"s off the ends of words, so "right" sounds like "roigh".
- The "a" sound often becomes like an "i", so "no way, mate" sounds like "no w-ay-e m-aye-ght".
- The "ah" sound in words like "that" or "hat" sounds like the "eh" in egg, so "that hat" becomes "theht heht".
- Chew your words before you say them.
- Add an intrusive "r" to some words, so "draw it" becomes "drawer it".
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Frequently asked questions
Listen to native speakers and mimic their speech patterns. Focus on unscripted television over films for a more natural pronunciation and way of speaking.
Long "o" sounds can be pronounced as ""nar", with an A-O sound. Drop the "t"s off the end of words, for example, "right" should sound like "roigh". The "a" sound can become like an "i", so "no way, mate" becomes "no w-ay-e m-aye-ght".
The Australian accent has a reputation for being lazy, with sentences flowing together and the ends of words being cut off or indistinguishable. There is also an overuse of slang, with Aussies often abbreviating words.
Aussies call their friends "mate". Other examples include "having a blue", which means "fight", and "doovalacky", used to describe something you can't remember the name of.
Steve Irwin, nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", had a broad working-class accent. For a more general accent, listen to Hugh Jackman.
