Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Aussie slang dictionary, bonzer idea.

G’day,

I started this blog entry on a Wordpress blog I no longer use, and have decided to transfer it here, as with enough interest, I am still happy to bring out add-on dictionaries containing our colourful slang.

Some users of our Australian English dictionary files have asked for more Aussie slang to be included.

To get the ball rolling I will build a secondary dictionary for OpenOffice.org which will contain Aussie slang. Further dictionaries for other applications will be built based on user demand.

Submit your favourite words

Add a comment to this blog with the words you would like to see included.

Guidelines
  • Check the spelling of the word where possible. Slang dictionaries are available in book stores.
  • Using Google, select Pages From Australia and check for common usage.
  • If someone else submits a word you do not agree with then dispute the word (but be nice about it).
When a sufficient number of suggestions have been received I will consolidate the suggestions for people to comment on and then include in the next version of the dictionary.

The Australian English slang dictionary will be available from the JustLocal site www.JustLocal.com.au. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on FREE Australian English spell check dictionary files.

Thanks - Kelvin Eldridge

PS. The comments from the original blog entry have been added by myself. Thank you to those adding their comments.

PPS. (Update: January 2009) The words from this post have now been reviewed and included in Word Check. Word Check uses the dictionary which will become version 4 of Kelvin's Australian English spellcheck dictionary.

16 comments:

  1. G’day,

    To get the ball rolling here are the first suggestions.

    g’day
    sheila
    trackies
    wuss
    wussy
    ute
    cockie
    figjam

    Keep them coming.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alan Walker Says:
    January 24, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    A while ago I created an Australian-vocabulary word game, Ozlip, and to go with it, a list of Aussie words and definitions. It’s not just slang - any word with a distinctive Australian usage. My list is online at http://ozlip.lexigame.com/ozdict.html

    It’s somewhat limited because the game uses only three- and four-letter words. It also excludes proper names and phrases. But even so, there are quite a few words there, from “alec” to “ziff”. It may be of some use for this project.

    By the way, I’m not convinced "wuss" is Australian. According to http://www.onelook.com it’s in quite a few non-Australian dictionaries, where it’s not marked as Australian.

    Anyhow, keep up the good work Kelvin.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kelvin Eldridge Says:
    January 24, 2007 at 8:26 pm

    The following list of words have been made available from the website http://ozlip.lexigame.com with permission from Alan Walker. Thanks Alan for your generous contribution.

    alec
    ambo
    arse
    arvo
    avo
    bag
    bite
    blue
    bog
    bomb
    bora
    bot
    bulk
    bung
    burl
    bush
    call
    cark
    carn
    cas
    cask
    chop
    clag
    cob
    coit
    comp
    cove
    cow
    cray
    crib
    crim
    croc
    cut
    dack
    dag
    daks
    darg
    darl
    date
    dee
    demo
    dero
    dice
    diff
    dig
    dike
    dill
    ding
    dink
    dob
    doco
    doer
    dog
    dong
    donk
    drum
    duco
    dud
    duff
    dyke
    emu
    esky
    exy
    fang
    fat
    full
    geek
    gig
    gin
    ging
    goog
    goom
    grog
    gum
    gun
    gyno
    hide
    hoon
    hoop
    hops
    hoy
    hump
    jack
    joe
    joey
    jube
    kero
    kino
    knap
    lag
    lair
    lash
    lob
    lurk
    mark
    mate
    mob
    mole
    moz
    muso
    myxo
    nana
    nick
    nong
    norg
    nork
    oil
    onka
    onya
    oval
    pash
    pat
    pav
    pea
    piff
    pimp
    pom
    port
    prop
    punt
    push
    quack
    quoit
    quoll
    rage
    rap
    rapt
    rego
    rels
    roo
    root
    rort
    ruck
    sank
    sav
    she
    sink
    skip
    skol
    slab
    slag
    slug
    sly
    snag
    soda
    sook
    sool
    sort
    squib
    squiz
    surf
    swag
    swy
    tea
    teno
    tike
    tip
    toey
    togs
    toot
    tote
    tray
    trot
    tuan
    tube
    turn
    tyke
    uni
    ute
    vag
    vego
    wag
    wipe
    wog
    woma
    wonk
    wrap
    yarn
    yeo
    yoe
    zac
    zack
    ziff

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kelvin Eldridge Says:
    January 27, 2007 at 1:10 pm

    Thanks Bob for the following list of words. Your input is appreciated.

    Porsche
    Sept <- is this an acceptable abbreviation?
    Max
    Parramatta
    gunna <- stretching it a bit?
    SMS
    northeasterly (from Bureau of Meteorology website)
    mozzie
    bluetongue
    sav
    chunder
    truckie
    yowie
    derro
    abbo <- offensive, maybe best left alone
    spinifex
    whinger/whinge
    ute
    MIG (welder, used by cockies and others)
    oxy (abbrev of oxy-acetylene welder)
    cockies
    tech
    footy
    esky
    roo
    squiz
    soapie
    freeway
    fibro
    flywire <- should be hyphenated?
    metho
    echidna
    diff <- abbrev of differential, part of a car.
    daks
    firey <- abbrev of fireman. Maybe not spelt like that.
    ambo <- abbrev of ambulance officer
    prang <- what the above attend to!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kelvin Eldridge Says:
    January 29, 2007 at 11:37 am

    Some more words from Bob. Again thanks.

    redback
    ironbark
    cozzie (also consider cossie)
    swifty
    shonk
    shonky
    maggie
    bludge
    furphy
    cabbie
    nobble
    dinkum
    crikey
    barbie
    gobsmacked
    housie
    RSL
    tinnie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kelvin Eldridge Says:
    February 1, 2007 at 3:27 pm

    And a few more from Bob.

    ABC
    that’ll
    megapixels
    gotta

    Thanks Bob

    ReplyDelete
  7. stib Says:
    March 30, 2007 at 3:53 pm

    drongo, bludger, wacker, blunnie, stubby, dunny, Taswegian, tassie

    also a few more occupations, I’m not sure if theyshould end in y or ie)
    postie, wharfie, chippie (carpenter), subbie (as in sub-contractor), pollie, journo, swaggie

    ReplyDelete
  8. stib Says:
    April 1, 2007 at 12:53 am

    thought of some more

    bogan, westie, koorie, combi, chigger (tasmanian slang, chigger=westie), bindi-eye, durrie, ciggie, strewth, treadly (bicycle)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jim Says:
    April 13, 2007 at 8:01 pm

    Definitional phrase: Flat=flatter ‘n’ a shit carter’s hat!

    Taswegian ~ Van de moanean

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jim Says:
    June 7, 2007 at 8:48 pm

    Quick one on the way to the bog….

    snake’s-hiss = micturate

    ReplyDelete
  11. # Jenifur Charne Says:
    September 16, 2007 at 11:08 pm

    Stib, one occupation you missed: sparkie (electrician)

    A few other aussie slang words and meanings nobody’s mentioned so far:
    fags: cigarettes.
    bluey: police officer working in a country town, blue heeler cattle dog.
    greenies: rainbow lorrikeets (might be a Queensland only one, not sure)
    bookie: bet taker at sporting events.
    Brissy; Brissie: Brisbane.
    Gabba: Brisbane Cricket Ground at Woolloongabba. The suburb has ended up sharing the same nickname as the stadium.
    Ekka: Royal National Association Exhibition.
    Bundy: Queensland town Bundaberg, and it’ well known product: Bundaberg Rum.
    brekkie; brekky: breakfast
    Stubbies: brand of men’s shorts by EFCO.
    Buckley’s: very little or no chance of success. From the surname of failed explorer William Buckley.
    # justlocal Says:

    ReplyDelete
  12. justlocal Says:
    November 4, 2007 at 2:06 pm

    Hi Jenifur, Jim and Stib,

    Thank you for your input. Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  13. hi
    i crawled your blog while searching for some sites of slang dictionary. your blog is excellent for knowing more about the slang.
    hope i will learn a lot from this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Mathew,

    Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated.

    - Kelvin

    ReplyDelete
  15. How about ripper, and rooted? Two words not used for their Aussie meaning in the UK when I arrived in 1982!

    ReplyDelete