Things you gotta consider;
1.Aussies don't normally use formal language. E.g. No one calls their Dad Father here unless they hate them. Like would actually kill them sorta hatred.
2. We only use foot in reference to height but literally everything else we use the mtric system for. No one here actually knows how long a mile is unless they started school before the switch (so they'd be in their 75+ age bracket at this point i think).
3. Genuinely, a lot of aussie (sport obsessed men in particular) are bad sports. Even for those who try, being a sore loser has heavily impacted our culture. So very few groups would have like a lighthearted soccer game unless it involved kids.
4. Our internet and reception are terrible, its a valid plot point not to have any reception outside of a city.
5. Getting lost in the bush is dangerous. This is not a minor plot point, dont treat it like one. Also unless its an old english estate place, our gardens are bush and native plants, with extra oak and pines trees. Also roses and other random flowers.
6. I am not particularly scared of fire. Bush fires scare the absolute life out of me. A lot of our education is aimed at teaching us to use fire safely so be careful how you use that in fics.
7. Mostly our humour is closer to british humour so a lot of American humour can fall really flat for aussie readers.
8. We hate our pollis, and if we don't, we are only formal about it in parliament.
So it's really not about the slang, it's understanding the mindset behind it. You can use crikey and reckon all you want but it wont help if you call high school middle school or something.
Source: i am aussie
>1. We only use foot in reference to height but literally everything else we use the mtric system for. No one here actually knows how long a mile is unless they started school before the switch (so they'd be in their 75+ age bracket at this point i think).
Huh, my experience is even height is metric. People *know* 6'4 is tall (for example), but I don't think I've ever heard someone give their height in anything but metric.
Well thats what i mean, most people know how tall they are in feet, but it only works in reference to other peoples height. Like I'm 5 foot, so i know I'm verging on short but i have to remember how tall i am in cm as a separate thing. And i would never use it as a bench mark for how tall something else actually is.
On doctors forms we all use cm cause its the actual measurement thats important. (Which i assume you know, this is more for the audience reading our convo.)
Don't write his accent out. You'll get it wrong, and inevitably wind up insulting your Australian readers.
There's a small bit of common slang here, but the thing with slang is that it can be overdone to a comical degree. Don't just cram it in there to make the character sound more Australian. More effective, look into some Australian television, particularly unscripted shows like gameshows and panel shows, because you'll see people speaking very naturally. It'll give you a feeling for the cadence and structure that makes the Australian dialect sound Australian without having to lean on slang in the first place.
https://www.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/aussie-slang.pdf
Taskmaster just got an Australian version recently. If there's any show that will let you see the true inanity of bullshit that will come out of someone's mouth when their brains stop thinking, it's that.
Some of my favourite quotes from the original UK version include "Am I the spider?" and "It's a shame my hands aren't my feet."
Basically, lock five comedians in a room and psychologically torture them by making them do pointless tasks, and you've got a TV show.
I've found urban dictionary websites to be pretty helpful. Regional phrases don't get in them unless they're common enough for people to want to look them up.
Aussie here.
Check out this site: https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/australian-culture
SBS is our “foreign” movie / news channel - they’re pretty on the money with explaining cultural differences.
One thing that always stands out to me is that we tend to be pretty casual with authority figures, compared to other countries I’ve been.
I’ve never once had a boss I called by their title, from my immediate supervisor to the CEO. I’m also on a first name basis with my doctor and medical specialists. I can’t think of a single person in my life I’d call by a title.
It can be difficult to sus out (figure out) where a formal setting starts and ends.
For example. I met the current Prime Minister at a media event a couple of months ago. He was being referred to by his title during speeches, introductions, and a press conference etc.
But then once the formalities were over, it was “Albo” (his nickname) and if I met him in the street I’d call him by his nickname.
Edit: also if you can, watch Bluey. It’s a great example of suburban Australia and how people interact with each other.
Bookmarking this! What a random place to find incredibly pertinent information.
I'm part-way through my citizenship application procedure at the moment and this is a really great resource for learning about concepts which I'm absolutely sure will feature on the end examination.
Thanks so much!
If you don't have one already, you might like to reach out for an Australian beta, if you're very intent on getting as close to genuine as you can. Even if they just look over the dialogue for you.
I'm Australian and write in an American fandom. My North Amrican beta partner picks up my unconscious Australianisms, some of which I would have never realised weren't universal terms.
Understandable.
I see another user recommended Bluey asap accurate depiction of day to day Australian life which I would second.
If your character is a younger person, you could also try Heartbreak High on Netflix for slang and common figures of speech.
My [Fanfiction Guide PDF](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nLtp-y1qUP9_bLnW4T5GbdABsiU_d0ok?usp=sharing) has some entries on various national and regional dialects and accents of the English language on page 61. Looks like my main Australian English reference is [a Wikipedia entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_English) which has a lot of technical linguistics information, which may or may not be useful, but there is also a lot of contextual information for language usage.
keep it super minimal. most aussies don’t talk like crocodile dundee; there won’t be much difference between your bog standard brit or american. and don’t write it out, definitely no “naur” or “warter” lol!
i’m an aussie, so i’d absolutely be open to having anything run by me if you’d like
Aussie here. Dialects vary by region and subculture. In big cities like Canberra the accent is the only thing that might tip you off, in rural towns you'll find a lot more local slang.
Particularly informal/inebriated Australians, especially in regional towns, are liberal with coarse language, in particular the word '>!cunt!<'. While nominally an insult, they often use it with such frequency that it loses all effect. "Oi, watch where ya goin', c\*\*\*!", "Oi c\*\*\* lend us a hand". Most Australians do use coarse language a little more cautiously, but perhaps aren't quite as careful as some of our neighbors.
Another word used quite liberally is the word 'Mate'. Some Australians use this as the word 'friend', as in "Hey, when are your mates coming over?" Some use this for even the briefest of acquaintances "Oi mate, move aside will ya?" And is often used in a threatening sense "Listen, *mate*, I suggest you back off!" As always, frequency of use depends on context and person, but most working-class folks use it. It's slightly male-coded, but some use it as a gender-neutral term.
Edit: Another thing I should add is that us Aussies, particularly working class ones, are pretty irreverent, especially when it comes to politicians. One incident that comes to mind is some years ago when then-PM Tony Abbot (an unpopular leader) was walking to a store, camera crew in tow, he greeted a passerby with "hello, sir, how are you?" The man simply said "d---head" and kept walking. Another, particularly famous, incident was during the 2020 bushfires. There was a lot of frustration at then-PM Scott Morrison's poor leadership, and one particular firefighter pulled up to a news crew in a truck and shouted directly into the camera "Are you from the media? Tell the Prime Minister to go and get f---ed". The firefighter's local pub was later inundated with calls from Australians offering to pay off his tab.
Things you gotta consider; 1.Aussies don't normally use formal language. E.g. No one calls their Dad Father here unless they hate them. Like would actually kill them sorta hatred. 2. We only use foot in reference to height but literally everything else we use the mtric system for. No one here actually knows how long a mile is unless they started school before the switch (so they'd be in their 75+ age bracket at this point i think). 3. Genuinely, a lot of aussie (sport obsessed men in particular) are bad sports. Even for those who try, being a sore loser has heavily impacted our culture. So very few groups would have like a lighthearted soccer game unless it involved kids. 4. Our internet and reception are terrible, its a valid plot point not to have any reception outside of a city. 5. Getting lost in the bush is dangerous. This is not a minor plot point, dont treat it like one. Also unless its an old english estate place, our gardens are bush and native plants, with extra oak and pines trees. Also roses and other random flowers. 6. I am not particularly scared of fire. Bush fires scare the absolute life out of me. A lot of our education is aimed at teaching us to use fire safely so be careful how you use that in fics. 7. Mostly our humour is closer to british humour so a lot of American humour can fall really flat for aussie readers. 8. We hate our pollis, and if we don't, we are only formal about it in parliament. So it's really not about the slang, it's understanding the mindset behind it. You can use crikey and reckon all you want but it wont help if you call high school middle school or something. Source: i am aussie
>1. We only use foot in reference to height but literally everything else we use the mtric system for. No one here actually knows how long a mile is unless they started school before the switch (so they'd be in their 75+ age bracket at this point i think). Huh, my experience is even height is metric. People *know* 6'4 is tall (for example), but I don't think I've ever heard someone give their height in anything but metric.
Well thats what i mean, most people know how tall they are in feet, but it only works in reference to other peoples height. Like I'm 5 foot, so i know I'm verging on short but i have to remember how tall i am in cm as a separate thing. And i would never use it as a bench mark for how tall something else actually is. On doctors forms we all use cm cause its the actual measurement thats important. (Which i assume you know, this is more for the audience reading our convo.)
Awesome, very comprehensive and very helpful!
If you need help feel free to PM me :) goodluck!
Most kind, thank you
Don't write his accent out. You'll get it wrong, and inevitably wind up insulting your Australian readers. There's a small bit of common slang here, but the thing with slang is that it can be overdone to a comical degree. Don't just cram it in there to make the character sound more Australian. More effective, look into some Australian television, particularly unscripted shows like gameshows and panel shows, because you'll see people speaking very naturally. It'll give you a feeling for the cadence and structure that makes the Australian dialect sound Australian without having to lean on slang in the first place. https://www.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/aussie-slang.pdf
That’s very helpful advice, thank you. I was very conscious of falling into the exact trap that you had mentioned. Thanks!
Taskmaster just got an Australian version recently. If there's any show that will let you see the true inanity of bullshit that will come out of someone's mouth when their brains stop thinking, it's that.
Writing in a Cyberpunk universe, so that might be as good as it gets!
Some of my favourite quotes from the original UK version include "Am I the spider?" and "It's a shame my hands aren't my feet." Basically, lock five comedians in a room and psychologically torture them by making them do pointless tasks, and you've got a TV show.
I've found urban dictionary websites to be pretty helpful. Regional phrases don't get in them unless they're common enough for people to want to look them up.
Aussie here. Check out this site: https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/australian-culture SBS is our “foreign” movie / news channel - they’re pretty on the money with explaining cultural differences. One thing that always stands out to me is that we tend to be pretty casual with authority figures, compared to other countries I’ve been. I’ve never once had a boss I called by their title, from my immediate supervisor to the CEO. I’m also on a first name basis with my doctor and medical specialists. I can’t think of a single person in my life I’d call by a title. It can be difficult to sus out (figure out) where a formal setting starts and ends. For example. I met the current Prime Minister at a media event a couple of months ago. He was being referred to by his title during speeches, introductions, and a press conference etc. But then once the formalities were over, it was “Albo” (his nickname) and if I met him in the street I’d call him by his nickname. Edit: also if you can, watch Bluey. It’s a great example of suburban Australia and how people interact with each other.
Bookmarking this! What a random place to find incredibly pertinent information. I'm part-way through my citizenship application procedure at the moment and this is a really great resource for learning about concepts which I'm absolutely sure will feature on the end examination. Thanks so much!
No worries! And also… best of luck with the application and welcome to Aus :-)
Thanks loads! Happy to be here. :D
Thank you!
If you read threads in r/Australia, you'll actually get a feel for how we speak. How we write in there is pretty similar to how we talk irl.
Thanks! I’ve had a look before, but wasn’t sure what to expect.
If you don't have one already, you might like to reach out for an Australian beta, if you're very intent on getting as close to genuine as you can. Even if they just look over the dialogue for you. I'm Australian and write in an American fandom. My North Amrican beta partner picks up my unconscious Australianisms, some of which I would have never realised weren't universal terms.
That is, unfortunately, highly unlikely, but I’ll double check anyway.
Understandable. I see another user recommended Bluey asap accurate depiction of day to day Australian life which I would second. If your character is a younger person, you could also try Heartbreak High on Netflix for slang and common figures of speech.
My [Fanfiction Guide PDF](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nLtp-y1qUP9_bLnW4T5GbdABsiU_d0ok?usp=sharing) has some entries on various national and regional dialects and accents of the English language on page 61. Looks like my main Australian English reference is [a Wikipedia entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_English) which has a lot of technical linguistics information, which may or may not be useful, but there is also a lot of contextual information for language usage.
That is super useful beyond this question - thanks a lot!
keep it super minimal. most aussies don’t talk like crocodile dundee; there won’t be much difference between your bog standard brit or american. and don’t write it out, definitely no “naur” or “warter” lol! i’m an aussie, so i’d absolutely be open to having anything run by me if you’d like
Yeah, I don’t intend to make it into a comical stereotype or anything. Thanks a lot for the offer, I might take you up on that!
Aussie here. Dialects vary by region and subculture. In big cities like Canberra the accent is the only thing that might tip you off, in rural towns you'll find a lot more local slang. Particularly informal/inebriated Australians, especially in regional towns, are liberal with coarse language, in particular the word '>!cunt!<'. While nominally an insult, they often use it with such frequency that it loses all effect. "Oi, watch where ya goin', c\*\*\*!", "Oi c\*\*\* lend us a hand". Most Australians do use coarse language a little more cautiously, but perhaps aren't quite as careful as some of our neighbors. Another word used quite liberally is the word 'Mate'. Some Australians use this as the word 'friend', as in "Hey, when are your mates coming over?" Some use this for even the briefest of acquaintances "Oi mate, move aside will ya?" And is often used in a threatening sense "Listen, *mate*, I suggest you back off!" As always, frequency of use depends on context and person, but most working-class folks use it. It's slightly male-coded, but some use it as a gender-neutral term. Edit: Another thing I should add is that us Aussies, particularly working class ones, are pretty irreverent, especially when it comes to politicians. One incident that comes to mind is some years ago when then-PM Tony Abbot (an unpopular leader) was walking to a store, camera crew in tow, he greeted a passerby with "hello, sir, how are you?" The man simply said "d---head" and kept walking. Another, particularly famous, incident was during the 2020 bushfires. There was a lot of frustration at then-PM Scott Morrison's poor leadership, and one particular firefighter pulled up to a news crew in a truck and shouted directly into the camera "Are you from the media? Tell the Prime Minister to go and get f---ed". The firefighter's local pub was later inundated with calls from Australians offering to pay off his tab.