The XYZ of Aussie ABCs

September 27th, 2008 · 5 Comments

Well, I started compiling these over a year ago. And finally we make it to the end of our Australian Dictionary. Any Aussies out there, feel free to add in the comments [but, keep it clean, 'ey, cobber?]

X
XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland

Y
Yabby : inland freshwater crayfish found in Australia (very good eatin’!)
Yakka : work (noun)
Yewy : u-turn in traffic (”chuck a yewy at the next traffic lights”)
Yobbo : an uncouth person

Z
Dazza [this is about the strange Aussie inclination to put "Z" sounds in as many words as we can. Dazza is a name given to someone whose actual name is either Darren or Daryl. Over here, Sharon would be known as Shazza, Barry as Bazza ... etc.]

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Hope you’ve enjoyed this thread of posts. Now for non-Auzzies out there, some of the language from me and my Ocker friends will be more understandable! To read the post where it all began, go to A is for Aussie…

Tags: Aussie ABCs

5 responses so far ↓

jonathan // Sep 30, 2008 at 7:04 am

Terry Pratchet kept mentioning xxxx in his novel “The Last Continent”. The characters always referred to it as “four ecks.” I didn’t know there actually was a beer called that. I always asumed Fosters had a monoply in Australia.
Pete // Sep 30, 2008 at 9:05 am

monopoly? Not in the north. Though I’m impressed by your knowledge of our beer culture.
jonathan // Sep 30, 2008 at 11:09 pm

My knowledge is very limited. Fosters is about the only beer that I’ve seen sold over here. They had some very memorable comercials for a while, with the slogan, “Fosters, Australian for beer.”

Your wines, now, they are beginning to saturate the market. I’m particularly fond of Little Penguin’s, Shiraz.
Pete // Oct 1, 2008 at 9:02 am

You know more than me, Big J. Apart from an occasional glass of port before bed and even more occasional rum-and-cola when I’m out, I’m not a drinker.

(Has a lot to do with alcohol-related ABI in my case, but that’s another story).

I don’t actually like beer or wine. Very unAustralian of me I’m told (by idiots). A class I had for five weeks recently gave me a limited edition chiraz on the last day. It was really thoughtuful and touching … but I didn’t have the heart to tell them I can’t stand the stuff.

My wife enjoyed it immensely!
jonathan // Oct 1, 2008 at 12:58 pm

I’ve been getting into wines via cooking. I got into trying new recipes. Many call for wine, but there’s always some left over for the meal…and desert.