Know Your Words in American, Australian and British English

Geographically the US, the UK, and Australia are distant neighbors, yet all share the same English language. Or is it that similar?

Indeed, many native speakers in the three countries mentioned above would call you out if you mixed the expressions and words usual to American, British, and Australian English languages.

Don’t get lost in languages and know your words.

Here’s the list of peculiar words characteristic to each of the three languages.

American English

- How’s it going?/What’s up? That’s just a way to ask, ‘How are you?’. Proceed with your answer as per usual.

- Costs an arm and a leg. This means that something is costly.

- Awesome/cool. Words one can use to express that someone or something was impressive or remarkable.

- Hang out. Spending time with someone or in a specific place.

- Have a blast. Something or someone is fun.

- Chill out. To relax. As simple as that!

Australian English

- Aussie. An Australian person.

- Mate. It means a friend. Nore, also used in British English!

- G’day. An Australian version of American How’s it going?/What’s up? Meaning, “Hello, how are you?”

- How ya going? Yet another Aussie way to ask, “How are you?”

- Fair dinkum. It means that something is true.

- True Blue. “The real thing” or genuine. However, is past times used to describe something patriotic.

- Crickey!/Streuth! An exclamation of surprise or something shocking.

British English

- Rubbish. A very nice exclamation if someone finds something worthless or not true. Otherwise, a word for “garbage” and “trash”.

- Lovely. A very lovely exclamation to express approval or fondness for something or someone.

- Bloody. Word to express emphasis; means “very.”

- Bodge. Use it to express a low-quality job or result of an effort.

- Pissed. For Americans, it means angry. For Brits it means someone bloody drunk.

- Chuffed to bits. A British way to say that one is pleased to someone or something.

-Cheeky. Playful or mischievous.