Maccas for Brekkie: Learning Australian as a Foreign Language

A quote attributed to George Bernard Shaw said that England and America were two countries separated by a common language. The same could be said about Australia and America. When I moved to Canberra, I felt confident because English was spoken here. And it is--but it’s like no English I’ve ever heard. When a neighbor asked me about Maccas for brekkie, I was mystified.

Australians shorten many words and then add “a,” “-o,” “-y,” or “-ie.” These are called “friendly” or “diminutive” endings. And the words are certainly cute, but often I find myself clueless about the meaning. Scholars have theorized that Australians use abbreviations and diminutives to create a bond with others that emphasizes friendliness, community, and informality.

Here are some examples of Australia’s abbreviations with diminutive endings:

• Aggro – aggravation
  
• Ambo - ambulance
• Arvo – afternoon
• Barbie – barbecue
• Bikkie – cookie  
• Brekkie – breakfast
• Choccy - chocolate
• Chrissy – Christmas
• Cuppa – cup of tea generally
  
• Defo – definitely
  
• Docu – documentary
  
• Esky – what we would call a cooler
  
• Inspo – inspiration
• Journo - journalist
  
• Lippie – lipstick
  
• Lollies – candy
  
• Maccas – McDonald’s
  
• Maggie - magpie
  
• Mozzie – mosquito
  
• Muso – musician
  
• Pokie – slot machine
  
• Prezzie – present or gift
  
• Rego - Registration
  
• Servo – gas station
  
• Sickie – a sick day from the office or school
  
• Tradie – a tradesman
  
• Uni – university
  
• Vego – vegetarian
  

Even now, after living in Australia for more than a year and consulting various authorities, I don’t dare try to come up with any of these words on my own. As far as I can tell, there’s no rule for when you add which ending. An abbreviation for my purse could be “purso,” or “pursie,” or some other word entirely. I think I’ll stop trying and go to Maccas for brekkie and have a choccy bikky and a cuppa instead.