MY ENGLISH to ENGLISH TRANSLATION, RHYMES,
PHRASES & MISSPELLED WORDS
ENGLISH to ENGLISH
(ALWAYS BEING UPDATED)
This is not really my idea but it's something I've always wanted to do based on own experiences after immigrating to Australia in 1995. You say, what is an English to English translation? How about Australian English to American English!!!. Yep, in my own experience, there has been a big difference! Even the spelling of some words can be different. This is my humorous attempt to translate some of those words, phrases and rhymes........ Mate!
Australian - WHITE American - RED
IN THE KITCHEN
Serviette - Paper Napkin.
Cuppa - Cup of tea or coffee.
Cuppa Char - Cup of Tea
Tucker - Food. Example: I had some good "tucker" at a restaurant last night.
Tea - Supper or Dinner.
Brekky - Breakfast.
Smoko - Morning work break.
Tap - Faucet.
Billy - A tin can used to boil water over an open fire . Usually while out camping in the outback.
Kettle - A kitchen appliance to boil water to make coffee or tea.
BABY STUFF
Pram - Stroller.
Nappy - Diaper.
Dummy - Pacifier.
Cot - Baby Crib.
FOODS
Mince or Mince Meat - Ground Beef.
Biscuits - Cookies.
Bikkies - Cookies
Scones - Biscuits.
Meat Pie - (I'll post some pictures of this soon)
Sausage Roll - (I'll post some pictures of this soon)
Pastie - (I'll post some pictures of this soon)
Bangers - Sausages.
Snags or Snaggers - Sausages
Sweets - Candy.
Lollies - Candy
Toffey Apple - Candy Apple.
Fairy Floss - Cotton Candy.
Entree - Appetizer.
Peckish - Hungry. As in to be hungry.
Cut Lunch - I just heard this one the other day, I think it's something like a picnic basket full of food.
Tomato Sauce - Ketchup.
Chocolate Crackle - Rice Crispies, Chocolate etc. etc. They're pretty good!
Honey Crackle - Rice Crispies, Honey etc. etc. Hum.... not sure if I've tried these?
Funny Faces - Same as Otter Pops(tm). Frozen flavored ice popsicle.
Smarties - Very similar to M&M's chocolate candy.
Yabbie - Small fresh water lobster.
Crayfish - Salt water lobster.
Prawn - Shrimp. And they can be very big too! Not shrimpy!
Jam - Jelly (sandwich jelly)
Jelly - Jello (flavored gelatin)
Aubergine - Egg Plant
Capsicum - Bell Pepper.
Polony - Bologna.
Gherkins - Pickles.
Cordial - Kool Aid. Cordial is a seriously sweet syrupy that needs to be diluted with water. It's not in a powder form as Kool Aid is.
Porridge - Oatmeal.
Rockmelon - Cantaloupe
Peanut Paste - Peanut Butter. ("Peanut Paste" sounds like some sort of glue. LoL!)
Potato Crisps- Potato Chips.
Chips - French Fries.
Fanta - Orange Flavored Soda Pop. (for some reason, I have only seen the orange flavored Fanta here in Australia. Not the whole range of flavors that are in America. So, the corporate name "Fanta" is used specifically to describe the flavor Orange.
Softie - See Soft Drink.
Soft Drink - Soda Pop.
Pavlova - Oh....Very Nice. I think it's whipped egg whites, regular sugar, castor sugar and vanilla flavoring.
Cool Drink - Soda Pop.
Ginger Beer - A type of soda pop. Taste horrible! But try it yourself.
Cheese - Cheese is cheese but in ten years I have never seen any cheese here in Australia with an orange(ish) color to it like in America. Except at bloody McDonalds!
Vegemite - Indescribable! Made from yeast products. All Aussies swear by it. They say it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. You must give it a try. Buyer beware! YUK YUK YUK!
Bush Tucker - Any food found in the outback that is edible.
Witchity Grubs - Large moth larva. If eaten, it's usually by the Australian Indigenous people. ( this is real bush tucker!!!) Can be eaten raw or cooked.
BEER, PUB AND DRINKING
Piss - Beer.
Drinkin Piss - Obvious... drinkin' beer but doesn't "drinking piss" sound so horribly foul!!!!!!!
Block, Carton or Slab - Same as a "Case" of beer in the States. 24 or 30 cans or bottles in a cardboard box.
Stubbie - Glass bottle of Beer.
Stubbie Holder - Beer Cooler. (insulated beer holder)
Tinnie - Can of Beer.
Grog - Alcohol in general. Beer, whisky, wine etc. etc.
Midi - Approx. 8 oz. glass of beer.
Schooner - Approx. 12 oz. glass of beer.
Pint - A full pint glass.
Jug - A "Pitcher" of beer.
Esky - Ice Chest. (it's what you put your piss and ice in!)
Chilly Bins - New Zealander slang for an Ice Chest.
Get Pissed - Get drunk.
Spew - Throw up! I put these next three here because of what happens if you drink to much piss!
Purge - Throw up!
Chunder- Throw up!
Fag - Cigarette.
Durry - Cigarette.
Pub - Bar.
Nighty - Night Club.
Skimpies - Topless girls working behind the bar at the pub.
Toppo's - See Skimpies!
Bar Maid - Hum...... normally a fully clothed female worker who is working behind the bar.
Publican - The owner or person running the Pub.
YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BIKE
Boot - The Trunk.
Bonnet - The Hood.
Windscreen - Windshield.
Windscreen wipers - Yep, you guessed it.... Windshield wipers.
Tray - The back part of a pick up truck behind the cab. Can't remember what they call in in America.
Flat Battery - Dead Battery.
Carbie - Carburetor.
Round About - I've only seen one of these in Orange County California many many years ago and it had every bloody driver totally stuffed up! There's millions of them here in Oz. I actually couldn't think of a good description for a round about so I got it off the net. ""A roundabout, rotary, or gyratory circus is a type of road junction (or traffic calming device) at which traffic streams circularly around a central island after first yielding to the circulating traffic. In the United States it is technically called a "modern roundabout", to emphasize the distinction from the older, larger sort of traffic circle. Roundabouts are statistically safer than both traffic circles and traditional intersections, though they do not cope as well with the traffic on motorways or similar fast roads.""
[.....and don't cope well with American drivers too! I know that for a fact!! LoL!! But I'm an expert at them now!
Gas - Propane. Gas for you BBQ!
Spotties - Extremely high power lights mounted to the front bumper or "Roo Bar". See Roo Bar.
Roo Bar - Normally a commercially made metal bar arrangement that mounts to the front of the vehicle to limit damage to the vehicle when impacting a Kangaroo at high speed. In most cases, Spotties are mounted to the Roo Bar.
Bull Bar - Super duper heavy duty Roo Bar to limit damage when striking a bull. Usually doesn't help much if the bull weighs more then your vehicle!
Indicators - Turn signals on your vehicle.
Truckie - Trucker.
Bikie - Biker . Typically someone who rides a Harley.
Pushie or Push Bike - A bicycle
Road Train - 18 wheel truck hauling 3 and 4 trailers.
Ute - Pick up Truck. I think it's a shortened version of the word Utility Vehicle.
Petrol - Gasoline
Petrol Station - Gas Station. You guessed it, the place you buy petrol for your Ute.
Garage - Auto Mechanic Example: to take the care to the garage for repairs.
Rego Plate - License Plate.
TOOLS
Sparkie - ME! (an electrician)
Torch - Flashlight... Big 10 D cell "Maglite" with fire coming out of it... only joking! It's just a flashlight.
Shifter - Cresent Wrench
Spanner - A normal open end, closed end or combination wrench.
Multigrips - Channel Locks
Pliers - Linemens Pliers
Side Cutters - Diagonal Pliers
Stiltsen - Pipe Wrench
G Clamp - C Lamp.
F Clamp - Wood Clamp. Looks like the letter "F". Used to clamp up wood when gluing boards together.
Gennie - Generator
Crow Bar -
Digging Bar -
Poggie Bar - Not sure how to explain this one. Maybe another day.
GENERAL
The Big Smoke - The big city. Perth, Sydney, Melbourne etc. But could be a large city near by to where one lives.
G'Day - Hello. Example: "G'Day Mate".
Mate - Friend (my favorite)
Ye Ol' Bastard - Friend
Cobber - Friend
Big Smoke - Going to one of the bigger Australian Cities. Sydney, Melbourne Perth etc. etc. I'm goin' to the Big Smoke.
Ring - Call. Example: To ring your mate on the telephone.
Nil - Zero or None
Naught - Zero
Naughts and Crosses - Tic Tac Toe
Bloody - Damn darn or darnit.
Barrack - To cheer for your team. Usually at a sports event. It is not "Root for your team" as we say in North America! Why? See Root.
Root - Sex (intercourse)
Ripper - Good, Great, Awesome.
Rubbish - Trash
Rubbish Bin - Trash Can
Tip - Trash Dump
Cinema - Movie Theater
Humpy - Small shed or temporary building.
Kip - Short sleep or nap
Fortnight - Every 2 weeks or 14 days.
Flat - Apartment.
The Loo - Toilet or Bathroom.
Dunny - Toilet or Bathroom.
Lip Balm - Chapstick.
Cactus - Broken, dead or died etc.
Nick - To take or steal.
Good Nick - Good condition.
Blue or Bluie - A person with red hair, a fight, a Blue Heeler cattle dog. Oh... and just the color blue.
Boondie - A big rock.
Coondie - A bloody big big rock.
Dink or Dinking - Riding double on a bike. Specifically on the handle bars.
Half Past - 30 minutes past the hour.
Quarter Past - 15 minutes past the hour.
Arvo - This is the ultimate butchered version of the words or phrase "this afternoon".
Dag - Someone being silly.
Yabbo - Someone acting silly. Trouble maker?
Dero - Derelict,
Orchardist - A person owning or operating an apple or orange orchard etc. etc.
News Agent - Somewhat like a AM/PM or 7/11 market but sells no alcohol.
Chemist - Pharmacist. When referring to the person running the Pharmacy. Also, Chemist when referring to the whole store. Example: I'm going to the chemist (drug store) to get some aspirin.
Lift - Elevator
Trolley - Shopping Cart. Used at the grocery store.
Fire Brigade - Fire Department
Flog - Sell. To sell something.
Flog - To beat the hell out of something or someone.
Yonks - A long time. "Haven't seen him in Yonks".
Jumper - Sweat Shirt.
Woka Woka - Ceiling Fan.
Operating Theater - Operating Room. As in a hospital operating room.
Garden - Yard. Example: To go out out and work in the front yard (garden)
Dear - Expensive. Not as in my dear wife Well, that's expensive too.
Lounge - Living Room.
Stick Book - Girly Magazine. Example: Playboy (you figure it out!)
Dressing Gown - Robe. Example: Bath Robe.
Randy - Horny
Arse - Your butt.
Bum - Your butt.
Rubber - Eraser. As in a pencil eraser. Not as in a ......! Thou should never go out in the rain with out a raincoat!
Caravan - Trailer. Example: A travel trailer normally towed behind the car.
Cyclone - Hurricane
Barrister or Solicitor - Lawyer
Pluggers - Thongs..... as in the foot wear type!
Trousers - Pants.
Daks - Trousers or pants.
Queue - Line. Example: Waiting in the queue or line at the grocery store.
Car Park - Parking Lot.
Note - Dollar Bill. Any denomination, $10 note, $50 note. Hey... and they are all different colors too. All you have to do is open your wallet and have a very quick glance at the colors. (If you got no orange or yellow in your wallet.... your not doing very well!!! Yellow's and Green's are the best! ($50's and &100's respectively)
Hire - Rent.
Tart - Good lookin' lady. Possibly known as a "chick" in America.
Sheila - a women in general. Example:. Hey, look at that sheila over there.
Bloke - a man in general. Example: Hey, who's that bloke over there?
Knickers - Underwear Example: Women's panties.
Post Code - Zip Code.
Post Box - Mail box.
Postie or Postman - Mailman.
Father Christmas - Santa Claus
Full Stop - This in known as a "period" in American English.
Holiday - Vacation.
Wog - Some one who is not a "True Blue, Fair Dinkum, Dinky Di Aussie.
Pom or POME - I think this goes back to the days when the English brought convicts to Australia. These convicts had P.O.M.E. on the backs or their prison clothing which stood for Prisoner Of Mother England. But today, it's a bit in reverse, the Aussie's now call an English Person in Australia a POM or POMMIE. But don't quote me on this.
Zebra Crossing - Cross Walk. This is not at the zoo! It's just the way the lines are painted on the street.
Z - The letter, pronounced Zed in Australia but Zee in America.
RADIO & TV
Wireless - A radio.
Aerial - Antenna.
Electron "Valve" - Electron "Tube".
Tellie - TV
Mobile Phone - Cell Phone.
Advertisement - Pronounced.... ad vert "tis" ment. (tis not tise)TV Commercial. Also can be a newspaper or magazine "advert" too.
Advert - Same as Advertisement.
SPORTS
Football - Can either mean Aussie Rules Football or Rugby depending what part of Australia you live in. Also can be describing the game of soccer depending who you're talking to. Especially if they are of English/European descent.
Googlie - Has something to do with the game of Cricket. I'll have to get back to this.
Tinnie - Small aluminum boat.
Mother-in-law fish - Self Explanatory! When out fishing, it's the awful tasting fish that you should of thrown back! (but you give it to your mother-in-law.)
Grid Iron - American Football. (to me, it sound like steel reinforcement bare in a concrete building!)
Hockey - If speaking to someone about Hockey, it will almost always be referring to Outdoor Field Hockey.
Netball - A sport not played in America that I know of. Played by women and some what similar to basketball.... some what.
Terrace - Bleachers in a Gymnasium or Stadium.
POLICE
Coppers - Police.
Cop Shop - Police Station.
On the Beat - Police on foot.
ANIMALS
Roo - Kangaroo.
Brumbie - Wild or Feral Horse.
Puss Puss or Pussy - A cat. (I know what your thinking!)
Bullie - Bull Terrier Dog.
Gekko - Lizard.
Mozzie - Mosquito. (disease carrying, blood suckin' terrible things they are!)
Salty or Croc - Large Salt water Crocodile.
Pink & Grey - Pink and grey parrot.
Ring Neck - Beautiful parrot with green, blue and yellow colors.
Lead - Leash. Example: A leash you use to walk your dog.
Ladybird - A Ladybug. This is not "Lady Bird Johnson! It's the little orange and black bug.
Sheep Station - Normally a very large area of land usually out in the out back which is used to raise sheep. These large blocks of land I believe are normally around 250,000 and 500,000 acres. Some are even as large a 1 million acres.
Cattle Station - Same as a sheep station except for raising cattle.
RHYMES
Australian - WHITE American - RED
Sky Rocket - Pocket. Example: The keys are in my Sky Rocket (pocket)
Ginger Beer - Engineer
China Plate - Mate. It has also been shortened to just the word "china".
On the Bone - Phone. Example: Talking on the bone.
Dog & Bone - Phone
Dust Bin Lid(s) - Kids.
Tin Lid(s) - Kids.
Butchers Hook - Look.
Dead Horse - Sauce. This only rhymes when spoken in a true Aussie accent! (To me, the word horse and sauce don't rhyme!)
Dogs Eye - Meat Pie.
Steak and Kidney - Sydney.
Septic Tank - Yank. Someone from America. Normally called Yank or Yankee but has also been known to be called a Septic or Seppo.
Bread & Jam - Tram. Example: "I'm going to take the Bread & Jam into Melbourne tomorrow."
PHRASES
Australian - WHITE American - RED
Ass Over Tit - To fall down.
True Blue - Genuine.
Fair Dinkum - For reals, genuine, the truth.
Dinky Di - The Truth.
Mates Rates - Reduced price.
Up The Duff - Pregnant.
Bees Knees - The Best.
Ducks Nuts - The Best.
Don't Give A Rats Clacker - Don't give a damn or don't care.
Thick As A Dunny Brick - Stupid.
On The Square - Not drinking. Same as being "On The Wagon".
Not Worth A Brass Razzoo - Worthless.
Out Passed The Black Stump - Something that is located way out in the middle of know where.
Dry As A Bone - A special oiled fabric rain coat. I can either be a short jacket or long knee length coat that is normally warn by stockmen on the sheep or cattle stations. But then, I have even seen them warn by people in the city.
MISSPELLED WORDS
Australian - WHITE American - RED
(my spell checker hates this part of this page!!! Everything to the left in WHITE is underlined! (almost)
Favourite - Favorite
Favour - Favor
Harbour - Harbor
Neighbour - Neighbor
Colour - Color
Humour - Humor
Honour - Honor
Metre - Meter
Aluminium - Aluminum
Gaol - Jail
Tyre - Tire
Licence - License
Cheque - Check
Catalogue - Catalog
Analogue - Analog
Grey - Gray
Mould - Mold
Jewellery - Jewelry
Pyjamas - Pajamas
Whilst - While. Not really a misspelled word. I just notice no one uses the word While.
Spelt - Spelled. Not really a misspelled word. I just notice no one uses the word.
Manoeuver - Maneuver