Lost in Translation

As with any country, there are often words that you use that are more common to your country. Slang terms are often an obvious difference, easy to recognise as words that probably won't be known, but there are words that we use so often that we (you, me, us) forget they're slang terms, or that because everyone in our country knows them, we forget that other people might not.

So, here's a list I've compiled of words that I've said that have confused people. Of course not ALL Australian's use these words, not ALL American's don't know what they mean... and different States often use different words (for example Pop vs. Soda vs. Coke) and I've also been told I'm a little weird with some words/pronunciations I use... but regardless, this list is based on my experience (so far) with saying things that confuse people. 

Whether it's simply be the accent making it sound weird (most likely :-P which is why there are some pronunciation examples) or not, it's interesting sometimes trying to make my brain think of a synonym. Maybe this will help some fellow Aussies with their translations :D 

I've listed in alphabetical order by Aussie word (which is first in the list) to make life easier (for me at least :P) and the words that follow are alternate words that I've been told to use here in the US. There may be more variations and some words have no equivalent so I put a definition instead. Enjoy!!

Words

Aquaplane, Hydroplane

Asphalt, Black Top

Beef Mince, Beef Chuck

Bin, Trashcan, Garbage

Biscuits, Cookies

Bogan - this one is hard to define! Wiki definition here: Wikipedia: Bogan

Bolognaise Sauce, Marinara Sauce

Bonnet, Hood

Boot, Trunk

Bugger, Shit, Crap :P

Bulldog clip, Binder clip

Capsicum, Bell Pepper

Chicken Breast, White Meat

Chicken Thigh, Dark Meat

Chips (fish & chips), Fries

Chips (like Lays), Potato chips

Chook, Chicken (chook is a slang term in Australia for chicken)
Chrissy, Christmas (just another shortening)
Cordial - A water additive like Crystal light but a concentrated liquid instead of powder

Cutlery, Flatware, Silverware

Dinner, Supper

Entree (in terms of a 3 course meal), Main (An entree in the US means a main meal so it's a large portion!)

Footpath, Sidewalk
Fortnight, 2 weeks, Bi-weekly, Semi-monthly

G-string, Thong
Gas, LPG

Greasy (as in dirty look), Stink Eye

Gumboots, Rain Boots, Galoshes

Hand Trolley, Dolley

Icing Sugar, Confectioners Sugar, Powdered Sugar

Icy Poles, Popsicles

Jam Doughnut, Jelly Donut

Jelly, Jello
Jumper, Sweater

King Single, Extra Long Single (7cms skinnier than a King Single)

Light Globe, Light Bulb

Lollies, Candy

Lollypops, Suckers

Maccas, Micky D’s

Mandarine, Mandarine Orange

Manual, Stick-Shift

Marinara Sauce, Seafood Sauce

Nutters, Crazy

Petrol, Gas

Pram, Stroller

Prang, Accident
Pressies, Presents

Ride-on mower, Tractor

Ring, Call

Rocked Up, Arrived

Scones, Biscuits

Serviette, Napkin

Shat (as in "that shat me"), Annoyed

Sherbert (wizz fizz) - Here "sherbert" is a frozen fruit puree. They don't have wizz fizz which is basically icing sugar and citric acid (I made it in school a few times :D)

Shut, Closed

Slice (as in Vanilla Slice), Bar

Softdrink, Pop, Soda, Coke

Solicitor, Attorney (a solicitor in the US is a door-to-door salesman)

Stationery, Office supplies (Stationery can refer to monogrammed items)

Thongs, Flip-Flops
Tomato sauce, Ketchup

Torch, Flashlight (torch in the US means Tiki Torch)

Trolley (shopping), Cart

Truck, Semi, Tractor Trailer

Ute, Truck, Pick-up

Whinge, Whine

Windscreen, Windshield

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Pronunciation

Advertisment = advert-iss-ment, advertise-ment

Aluminium =  alu-min-ium, alu-min-um (also spelt without the second "i" in the US)

Anti = ant-eye, ant-ee (this is apparently a "me" different some Aussies told me)

Audi = ow-di, aw-di

Coupe = coo-pay, coop

Mazda = maz-duh, mahz-duh

Nissan = niss-ahn, niece-ahn

Schedule = shed-dual, sked-dual (possibly a "me" difference)

Tomato = tom-ar-to, tom-ate-o

Z = zed, zee (possibly a "me" difference)

**Note: I'll add to this for any others I find, or please leave a comment if you would like a definition :D