A friend posted a Kiwi/American dictionary on his blog a while ago so I'm not going to double up on what he's translated. I will say though that while he's got a lot of it right, there are a few misconceptions. "G'day" is a common phrase that means "hello" but it's origin is Australian, not Kiwi. Ditto for "Good on ya!"
Some other common words and phrases that might require translation:
Aussie = Australian
Dinner = a hot lunch as in Christmas dinner or Sunday dinner. However Thanksgiving Dinner (the same friend introduced us to an American Thanksgiving) is the evening meal.
Esky = chilly bin = picnic cooler
Fair dinkum = True, absolutely. If it's asked as a question as in Fair dinkum? it means Is that true? (I have a friend who says I say this a lot but I've never heard myself saying it yet).
Flat = dead as in My battery's flat or This torch [flashlight] is flat.
Fringe = bangs
Kiwi = New Zealander. Also the flightless bird that is native to New Zealand.
Nappy = diaper
Nurse = to hold a baby or child (not to feed as in the US)
Oz = Australia as in I come from the Land of Oz.
Smack = spank = now banned by law
Tap = faucet
Tea = a beverage or the evening meal
Tramping = hiking
Yeah, right! = I don't believe it or Not likely.
Washing = laundry. As in I have to do the washing, I've got so much washing, or why do five sons and one husband make so much washing?
Abbreviations that need an explanation so that my family stops asking me what they mean when they read my blog over my shoulder are:
DH = Dear husband (at least when I'm in a good mood with him)
DIL = Daughter-in-Law (DIL#1 is married to Son#1. She's also our first DIL but to make it easy to remember as DILs are added to our family they will be given a number to correspond with the son they are married to).
Son#1, #2, #3, #4, #5 = sons (obviously!). The numbers relate to birth order and have no other significance.
LOL = Laugh out Loud
BTW = By the way
MIL = Mother-in-law
FIL = Father-in-law
The Most Adorable Granddaughter in the World = I haven't come up with an acceptable abbreviation yet, but I'm sure there's no doubt as to who I'm talking about!
I'm sure I'll think of more over time so I'll keep updating this for future reference. Cheers!
Some other common words and phrases that might require translation:
Aussie = Australian
Dinner = a hot lunch as in Christmas dinner or Sunday dinner. However Thanksgiving Dinner (the same friend introduced us to an American Thanksgiving) is the evening meal.
Esky = chilly bin = picnic cooler
Fair dinkum = True, absolutely. If it's asked as a question as in Fair dinkum? it means Is that true? (I have a friend who says I say this a lot but I've never heard myself saying it yet).
Flat = dead as in My battery's flat or This torch [flashlight] is flat.
Fringe = bangs
Kiwi = New Zealander. Also the flightless bird that is native to New Zealand.
Nappy = diaper
Nurse = to hold a baby or child (not to feed as in the US)
Oz = Australia as in I come from the Land of Oz.
Smack = spank = now banned by law
Tap = faucet
Tea = a beverage or the evening meal
Tramping = hiking
Yeah, right! = I don't believe it or Not likely.
Washing = laundry. As in I have to do the washing, I've got so much washing, or why do five sons and one husband make so much washing?
Abbreviations that need an explanation so that my family stops asking me what they mean when they read my blog over my shoulder are:
DH = Dear husband (at least when I'm in a good mood with him)
DIL = Daughter-in-Law (DIL#1 is married to Son#1. She's also our first DIL but to make it easy to remember as DILs are added to our family they will be given a number to correspond with the son they are married to).
Son#1, #2, #3, #4, #5 = sons (obviously!). The numbers relate to birth order and have no other significance.
LOL = Laugh out Loud
BTW = By the way
MIL = Mother-in-law
FIL = Father-in-law
The Most Adorable Granddaughter in the World = I haven't come up with an acceptable abbreviation yet, but I'm sure there's no doubt as to who I'm talking about!
I'm sure I'll think of more over time so I'll keep updating this for future reference. Cheers!
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