BETA
Chapter 1
The wild history of Strine
Chapter 2
Decoding the daily lingo
Chapter 3
Slang of the outback and bush
Chapter 4
Aussie slang on the global stage
Ch 1 · The wild history of Strine
matilda Decode classic Aussie slang to discover what people down under are actually saying.
matilda The 1788 arrival of the First Fleet brought Irish, Scottish, Cockney, and northern English prisoners together in isolated settlements.
Quiz
Which historical event in 1788 marked the beginning of the dialect mixing that created the Australian accent?
Quiz
Within how many generations did the unique, unified Australian accent develop in the early penal colonies?
matilda Alistair Morrison used the pseudonym Afferbeck Lauder to decode colorful Australian slang
Quiz
What everyday English phrase was phonetically slurred into the name 'Emma Chisit' in Alistair Morrison's book?
Quiz
Which pseudonym did Alistair Morrison use when he published his famous 1965 book 'Let Stalk Strine'?
Fun Fact
The word Strine: The word 'Strine' itself is just a heavily slurred phonetic spelling of the word 'Australian' spoken with a thick local accent.
Quiz
What is the origin of the traditional Australian bush call 'cooee,' used to locate people over long distances?
Quiz
Approximately how many distinct Indigenous languages existed in Australia prior to European colonization in 1788?
Glossary
strine (noun)
A humorous phonetic spelling of Australian English that mimics a broad, slurred accent. Alistair Morrison coined the term in 1964 after author Monica Dickens misheard a shopper in Sydney.
A humorous phonetic spelling of Australian English that mimics a broad, slurred accent. Alistair Morrison coined the term in 1964 after author Monica Dickens misheard a shopper in Sydney.
Quiz
Why did early Australians historically adopt the habit of shortening words and adding friendly suffixes?
Quiz
What is the technical linguistic term for the shortened, affectionate words like 'barbie' or 'arvo' that Australians love?