Diminutives in Australian English

Diminutive forms of words are used extensively in every day Australian English. While diminutives are generally seen as slang, many forms are used widely across the whole of society in most circumstances. There are over 5,000 identified diminutives.^[1][2][3]

Usage

2006 Holden Ute (Australia)

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is well known for using Australian colloquialisms such as diminutives.

In Australian English, diminutives are usually formed by taking the first part of a word, and adding an a, o, ie, or y. Alternatively in some cases no ending may be used. While the form of a diminutive is arbitrary, their use follows strict rules. Diminutives are not used creatively. For example, an ambulance paramedic is called an ambo, and is never pronounced ambie or amba. The use of the 'ie' ending, for example in bikie, (a motorcycle club member), does not carry a connotation of smallness or cuteness as it does in other English dialects.

Some diminutives are used almost exclusively except in the most formal of circumstances, while some are rarely used. Others might be restricted to certain demographic groups or locations. The use of diminutives also evolves over time with new words coming into use, and with words coming into and out of favour. Some diminutives have become so common that the original form has fallen out of common usage. For example, Salvos has begun to replace the name Salvation Army to such an extent that some Australians do not recognise the Salvation Army name.^[4][5] Deli has become so universal that delicatessen is rarely used. Some words, such as ute, from utility vehicle, a car with a tray back, have become universal.

Some diminutives are rarely used, but widely recognised. For example, chalkie means teacher, however most Australians simply call a teacher a teacher.

Diminutives are often used for place names, and are only recognised by people in the local area. Pub and hotel names in particular are often shortened, e.g. the establishment known as the Esplanade Hotel in St. Kilda, is more commonly known as The Espy.

List of Diminutives

This list contains noteworthy and commonly understood diminutives from Australian English.

• Abo, an indigenous Australian. From Aboriginal. Considered highly offensive.
• Aggro, to be aggressive or angry.
• Ambo, an ambulance paramedic.
• Arvo, afternoon.
• Barbie, a barbecue, which may refer to either the cooking apparatus itself or the event of cooking food on a barbecue.
• Beauty or Beaut, beautiful. Used in a much wider sense than the beauty, e.g. fantastic or excellent.
• Bikie, a member of a motorcycle club, sometimes involved in criminal activity. This is equivalent to biker in American English. A motorcycle club is called a bikie club. Outlaw motorcycle clubs are called bikie gangs.
• Blowie, a blowfly. A large buzzing fly common in Australia..
• Bookie, a bookmaker.
• Bottlo, a bottle shop/alcohol store.
• "'Bowlo"', a lawn bowling club
• Brekkie, breakfast.
• Brisie or Brizzie, Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland.
• Brickie, a bricklayer.
• Budgie, a budgerigar. Called a parakeet in the US. Male swimming costumes are called budgie smugglers.
• Bundy, Bundaberg, Queensland, also slang for Bundaberg Rum.
• Cab Sav, Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
• Chalkie, a teacher. From chalk used on blackboards.
• Chippie, a carpenter. From wood chips.
• Chockie, a chocolate.
• Chrissie or Chrissy, Christmas.
• Cockie, a cockatoo. Commonly a sulphur crested cockatoo.
• Compo, compensation for being injured at work. Generally not used for other forms of compensation.
• Cossie, a bathing costume.
• Cuppa, a cup of tea or coffee.
• Deli, a delicatessen.
• Dero, a poor person, from derelict.
• Devo, devastated.
• Doco, a documentary.
• Firie, a fireman.
• Footy, football, which may refer to the sport of football, the ball itself, or a specific game. Generally, footy refers to Rugby League in Queensland and New South Wales, and to Australian Rules Football in the other states. Association football is either called football or soccer, but never footy.
• Garbo, a garbage collector.
• Greenie, an environmentalist. From the green movement.
• Journo, a journalist.
• Kero, kerosene.
• Kindy or Kinder, kindergarten.
• Lippy, a lipstick.
• Maccas, McDonalds fast food restaurants.
• Metho, methylated spirits.
• Mo, a moustache.^[6] Contributed to the portmanteau "Movember".
• Pav, pavlova.
• Pokie, a poker machine.
• Pollie, a politician.
• Povvo, a poor or cheap person. From poverty.
• Postie, a postman or postwoman.
• Preggo or preggers, pregnant.
• "'Reff"' referee or to referee a game
• Reffo, a refugee.
• Rego, a vehicle registration.
• Rellie or "'Relo"' a relative.
• Roo, a kangaroo.
• Saltie, a saltwater crocodile.
• Selfie, a self-shot photograph. This term originated in Australia and has been adopted world wide via the internet. It became The Oxford Dictionary's 2013 word of the year.^[7][8]
• Semi, a semi trailer truck.
• Seppo, a derogatory term for an American. Seppo is a diminutive of septic tank which is in turn rhyming slang for yank, which is a diminutive of yankee.
• Servo, a petrol station, service station.
• Sickie, a sick day.
• Smoko, a smoking break while at work. Since smoking has been banned in many workplaces, a smoko has come to mean any rest break at work.
• Spag bol, Spaghetti Bolognese.
• Sparkie, an electrician. From sparking, electric arcing.
• Spazz out, to throw a tantrum. From spastic.
• Subi or Subie, a Subaru car.
• Sunnies, sunglasses.
• Super, superannuation. In Australia, all employers are obliged to set aside a percentage of a workers wages in a superannuation fund.
• Surfie, a surfer.
• Tassie, Tasmania.
• Tellie or Telly', a television.
• Tradie, a tradesman.
• Trackies, track pants or a tracksuit. Track pants are also known as trackie dacks, dacks being a colloquial word for trousers.
• Truckie, a truck driver.
• Undies, underwear.
• Uni, university.
• Ute, a passenger vehicle with a cargo tray in the rear. Festivals that involve gatherings of utes are popular in rural areas and are called ute musters.
• Veggie or vegie, vegetables, generally not a vegetarian.
• Veggo, a vegetarian. Never a vegetable.
• Wheelie bin, a household waste bin on wheels.
• Wino, an alcoholic, from wine.
• Woollies, Woolworths supermarkets.

References