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Australian accent on certain words that has US expat baffled

It’s a simple two letter word that we hear and say every single day. But the Aussie twang associated with this word has one US expat stumped.

Australian accent on certain words that has US expat baffled

A woman from the US, who has been living in Australia for three years, says there’s one word – and primarily our pronunciation of it – that baffles her.

Lindsy, who goes by the name @TalkBeerdyToMe, said that while she’s spent five years in the southern hemisphere – three of those in Australia – she said that she should be able to do an Australian accent.

RELATED: Hilarious Australian slang words that baffle foreigners

The US expat, who has been in Australia for three years, is baffled over the pronunciation of one word.
The US expat, who has been in Australia for three years, is baffled over the pronunciation of one word.
The US expat, who has been in Australia for three years, is baffled over the pronunciation of one word.
The US expat, who has been in Australia for three years, is baffled over the pronunciation of one word.

RELATED: 16 things that shock tourists about Australia when they visit

But sadly, a few words still catch her out when putting on an ocker accent.

Taking to her TikTok account, the apparent beer connoisseur said she’s been really “hung up” on pronouncing the word ‘no’ in an Australia accent, which she admittedly practices during her free time.

“You’d think that by now I would be able to do an Australian accent a little bit,” she said on her account.

“In my free time, I like to practice it. But guys … it’s so bad.”

“Naowwwr,” she says to the camera on repeat, sounding more British than anything else.

“Oh naooowwwr.”

Her interpretation of the Aussie accent was quickly shut down on the social media platform.

“Sounds like a cat waiting to be let out,” one person said of Lindsy’s screech.

“No … just no. Nobody can do an Aussie accent unless you’re Australian,” another added.

Lindsy, a US expat, says she's been trying to learn how we pronounce ‘no’.
Lindsy, a US expat, says she's been trying to learn how we pronounce ‘no’.
Her attempt was likened to a cat wanting to get out.
Her attempt was likened to a cat wanting to get out.

It’s not the first time an Aussie word or pronunciation has baffled visitors.

Earlier this year, a backpacker in Australia was roasted online after posting a request for help with understanding the local Aussie lingo.

Alex Grudev, who has lived in Sydney for five years, took his appeal to Facebook after apparently still finding Australian slang a struggle to decipher.

“Girls I am looking for how teach me Australian slang (sic),” the backpacker wrote.

“I have been living in Sydney for five years but still don’t know.

“I’d appreciate it and in return, spending a great time to have a coffee or a glass of wine.”

There's a few words that often baffle visitors in Australia.
There's a few words that often baffle visitors in Australia.

Hundreds of people replied to Mr Grudev’s post – but many saw straight through his request, suggesting it was more of a ploy to get dates than a genuine appeal for help.

But let’s be honest, it’s not until you converse with someone from another country that you begin to appreciate just how zany the Australian vernacular is.

Previously, we’ve attempted to explain the most confusing Aussie slang terms to people embarking on a trip Down Under.

To recap, here’s our top five:

1. Thongs

This one really baffles visitors, especially those from the United States. In the USA, a thong is a piece of underwear. In Australia, it’s what we call flip-flops. Sometimes we also call them “double-pluggers”. If we break our thongs you may hear one of us exclaim that “I’ve just had a blowout in my double-pluggers”.

2. Barbie

It’s not a plastic doll. Down Under a “barbie” is short for barbecue. There is actually a whole range of confusing terms you may encounter at an Australian barbecue. An “avo” is an avocado, a “chook” is a chicken, an “Esky” is a portable cooler, “snags” are sausages, “sunnies” are sunglasses and a “tinnie” is a can of beer.

A barbie isn't exactly a toy doll in Australia.
A barbie isn't exactly a toy doll in Australia.

And if they say “bring a plate” they don’t mean bring your own empty plate because they don’t have enough crockery. They mean bring a plate of prepared food to share.

3. Cactus

What you think it means? A spiky plant. What it means in Australia? Broken, or not functioning. For example, “I can’t drive us down the coast this weekend, my car is completely cactus.”

4. Shark biscuit

Believe it or not, this is not a type of Animal Cracker cookie. This is someone who is not very good at surfing.

5. Lappy

Not to be confused with an erotic dance, this is what Australians call their laptop computer.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/australian-accent-on-certain-words-that-has-us-expat-baffled/news-story/7e24851e11490050dd3ff2f7ddd882dc