Diminutives in Australian English

Diminutive forms of words are commonly used in everyday Australian English. While many dialects of English make use of diminutives and hypocorisms, Australian English uses them more extensively than any other.Sussex, Roland. 2004. Abstand, Ausbau, Creativity and Ludicity in Australian English. Australian Journal of Linguistics 24(1). 3-19. Diminutives may be seen as slang, but many are used widely across the whole of society. Some forms have also spread outside Australia to other English-speaking countries. There are over 5,000 identified diminutives in use in Australian English. A similar phenomenon also occurs in New Zealand English.

Usage

In other English dialects, diminutives usually imply smallness or have a childish connotation such as in 'birdie', 'doggy', or 'kitty'. While diminutives can be used in this way in Australian English, they are also used widely in a non-childish manner, with over 4,300 being recorded. For example, bikie (a motorcycle, or motorbike club member), does not imply a bicycle in a small or childish sense as it may in other English dialects.

In Australian English, diminutives are usually formed by taking the first part of a word, and adding an ending such as a, o, ie, y, or s. Sometimes, no ending is added. Phonological changes may occur, such as the transformation of medial or final /ɹ/ into /z/, as in Sharon → Shazza. 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, never ambie, or amba. Some diminutives are almost always used in preference to the original form, while others are rarely used or restricted to certain groups or locations. The use of diminutives also evolves over time, with new words coming into use and others falling 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. 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.

There is common usage of the diminutive forms of people's names; Hargrave → Hargie; Wilkinson → Wilko; John → Jonno; David → Davo; Hogan → Hoges; James → Jimmy → Jim → Jimbo; Benjamin → Ben → Benno; Barry → Bazza. This is usually a display of affection and acceptance rather than belittlement.

Organisations and businesses will often embrace the diminutives given to them by Australians, using them in their own advertising and even registering them as trademarks. McDonald's Australia, for example, has registered and uses the name Macca's, rather than the term McDonald's still seen on its restaurants in Australia.

Diminutives are often used for place names, and are only recognised by people in the local area, for example, Cot for Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Parra for Parramatta in Sydney and Broady for Broadmeadows in Melbourne. Even entire cities and States, such as Shepp for the major regional Victorian city of Shepparton or The Gong for the New South Wales coastal city/region of Wollongong or Tassie for the state of Tasmania.

Pub and hotel names in particular are often shortened. For example, the Esplanade Hotel in St. Kilda, will often be called The Espy.

Purpose and history The purpose of diminutives in Australian English is not well understood despite being a prominent part of Australian culture. Some research suggests that the use of diminutives serves to make interactions more informal, friendly and relaxed. Linguist Anna Wierzbicka argues that Australians' use of diminutives reflects Australian cultural values of mateship, friendliness, informality, and solidarity, while downplaying formality and avoiding bragging associated with tall poppy syndrome.

Records of the use of diminutives in Australian English date back to the 1800s. Older Australians tend to prefer diminutives with endings such as '-o' in smoko (a work rest break); however, younger Australians have begun to use endings such as -s as seen in totes (totally).

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

Those marked ‡ are also common in other English dialects.

Abo or Abbo, an indigenous Australian. From Aboriginal. Considered offensive. Acca, academic (used in the academic field) Acca Dacca, rock band AC/DC Ag, agriculture Aggro, aggressive, aggravated or angry Albo, Anthony Albanese, 31st prime minister of Australia Alkie or ‡Alco, an alcoholic Ambo, an ambulance paramedic Apo or ape-o, from apeshit, meaning very angry or excited Arvo or (less commonly) Arvie, afternoon ‡Avo, avocado ‡Aussie, Australian

Barbie, a barbecue, the cooking apparatus itself or the event of cooking food on a barbecue Barnesy, Australian singer Jimmy Barnes Barra, a barramundi, hence the Ford Barra engine built by Ford Australia Bazza, Barry (name) ‡Beauty, beaut, or bewdy, beautiful. Used in a much wider sense than the beauty, e.g. fantastic or excellent. Beeza, BSA brand of motorcycle (now historic) Belco, the district of Belconnen in the Australian Capital Territory ‡Berko, go berserk (e.g. he went berko) (also used in New Zealand) ‡Bickie, biccy or bikkie, a biscuit Big bickies, substantial sums of money Bidgie, the Murrumbidgee River Bikie, a member of a motorcycle club, with a connotation of involvement in criminal activity. This is equivalent to biker in other forms of English. A motorcycle club is called a bikie club. Outlaw motorcycle clubs may also be called bikie gangs. Blowie, a blowfly. A large buzzing fly common in Australia Blowy, fellatio, short for blow job Bluey, a blue heeler ‡Bolshie, from Bolshevik, meaning of a person or attitude, deliberately combative or uncooperative ‡Bookie, a bookmaker Boardies, boardshorts, worn by surfers Bottle-oh, (historical) a mobile bottle collector (for return and re-use) Bottle-o, a bottle shop or alcohol store (liquor store) Bowlo, a lawn bowls clubhouse ‡Brekkie or Brekky, breakfast Brissy (alternate spellings Brizzy, Brissie or Brizzie), Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. ‡Brickie, a bricklayer Broadie or Broady, Broadmeadows in Victoria, Broadbeach in Queensland Bruns, Brunswick Heads - town in Northern NSW Brushie, a brushtail possum ‡Bub, baby, as in "mum and bub" ‡Budgie, a budgerigar, a parakeet. Budgie smugglers – Men's swimming briefs Bundy, the city of Bundaberg, Queensland, or the Bundaberg Rum beverage Bunners, or Bunnos (when referring to Bunnings), the Bunnings chain of hardware stores, or the city of Bunbury, Western Australia Bushie, a bushman, one who is competent to live away from civilization (from bushman) Bushie, a bushranger Busso, the town of Busselton, Western Australia

Cabo, Caboolture, Queensland Cab Sav, Cabernet Sauvignon wine ‡Cardie, a cardigan Carby or carbie, a carburettor Cauli (pron. "collie"), cauliflower Ceno or Cenno, the Centrelink office. Also used to refer to a fortnightly payment (pension or otherwise) from the Centrelink office. ‡Champers, champagne Chardy, chardonnay wine Chewy, chewing gum Chockers, full to overflowing, derived from "chock-a-block" Chockie or Choccy, chocolate Chocko (from chocolate soldier), a member of the Australian Army Reserve Chrissie or Chrissy, Christmas Churchie, a church-goer (also used regarding students from Church of England schools) ‡Ciggie, a cigarette Cockie, a cockatoo. Commonly a sulphur-crested cockatoo. By extension, a farmer, e.g. "cow cockie" for dairy farmer. Also slang for cockroach Coldie, a cold can or stubby of beer, as in "crack a coldie" Connie, a bus or train conductor, a condom Coota, Cootamundra, also barracouta ‡Compo, compensation for being injured at work. Generally not used for other forms of compensation. Corro, corrugated iron or PVC conduit ‡Cossies or Cozzies, a bathing costume Cow Bombie, Cowaramup Bombora Cranie, a crane driver Croc, a crocodile Crownie, variously refers to Crown Lager or a Crown Prosecutor, the latter exemplified by the televisions series Crownies. ‡Cuppa, a cup of tea or coffee

Dandy, Dandenong Datto, a Datsun automobile Davo, David (name) Deckie, deckhand ‡Deli, a delicatessen Deffo, defamation (used in the legal field) Defo, definitely Delo, trade union delegate Dermo, Dermatitis Dero or derro, a derelict, a poor (often homeless) person, or location or building; also used as an adjective Devo, devastated, very upset over some event Deso, a designated driver Dexxy or Dexie, dextroamphetamine Diso, the disability pension, someone with a disability Dizzie, a car distributor, or an electrical distribution board Doco, a documentary Dodge, dodgy or suspicious Doley, someone on the dole (unemployment benefits) Doughie, the doughnut driving manoeuvre ‡Druggie or Druggo, illicit drug user Dunny, an outhouse, derived from dunnekin Durry, Duzz or Duzza, a cigarette, from the Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco brand

E ‡Eckies, ecstasy. From the street name for MDMA. Ekka, exhibition. Used to describe the Brisbane Royal Show Erko, the Sydney suburb of Erskineville Espy, establishments named "Esplanade", such as the Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne or the Esplanade Hotel (Fremantle) Esky, a portable insulated container. From the Eskimo brand, which was later shortened to esky. Exy, expensive Back to top

Falsies, a heavily padded brassiere, or dentures (false teeth) Farnsy, Australian singer John Farnham Festy, festering, denoting something disgusting Firie, a firefighter Fisho, a fisherman or woman Flannie or flanno, a flannelette shirt Flatties, flat-soled (women's) shoes Flatty, a flat tyre, a slotted or "flat-head" screwdriver, or a Flathead (fish) ‡Footy, football, which may refer to the sport of football, the ball itself, or a specific game. Generally, footy refers to Australian Rules Football in Southern and Western States or Rugby league in Queensland and New South Wales. Association football is either called football or soccer, but never footy. Rugby Union is called rugby, never footy. The Nine Network runs two longstanding variety television shows called The Footy Show; one for Aussie Rules, and the other for Rugby League. Foxie, fox-terrier Freo, the city of Fremantle in Western Australia Freshie, a freshwater crocodile, or the Freshwater Beach in Sydney Fridgey or Fridgie, a HVAC technician Foo-ies, rock band Foo Fighters Forkie, a forklift operator Fourby, a four-wheel drive vehicle, derived from 4x4 ("four by four")

G Town, nickname for Geelong, Victoria The G, the MCG, or Melbourne Cricket Ground The Gabba, The Brisbane Cricket Ground, located in the suburb of Woolloongabba. Garbo, a garbage collector, Westfield Garden City in Brisbane. Gero, Geraldton, a town in Western Australia Geo, a Geologist Gladdy, the gladioli family of plants. The term was popularised by Barry Humphries in character as Dame Edna Everage Glenny, Glen Waverley, a suburb of Victoria The Gong, Wollongong, New South Wales Greenie, an environmentalist, from the green movement; usually pejoratively Greensie, Greensborough, a suburb of Melbourne Gossie, Gosford Gunners, the band Guns N' Roses Gunners, the district of Gungahlin in the Australian Capital Territory

Handy, a handjob Heckers, hectic Hoodie, hooded sweatshirt ‡Homo, homosexual (offensive) Hospo, hospitality Housos, (pron. –z–) residents of public housing Hundo, a one hundred dollar note Hypo, hyperactive

Indo, Indonesia Indro, Indooroopilly, a suburb in Brisbane Iso, isolation, gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Isopropyl alcohol

Jocks, men's briefs (underwear), esp. in phrase "socks and jocks"; from the brand name "Jockey" Jono, Johnno or Jonno, short for Jonathan or John. ‡Journo, a journalist Jindy, short for Jindabyne

Diminutives in Australian English

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