A guide to Australian English

The distinctive way people speak English in Australia can be a challenge and a charm to those who are new to the country. You may have already heard it before arriving, but experiencing it in person could feel very different. To help you understand Australian English in advance, we explore its unique features and history – including why Australians speak English, and what they sound like when they do.

What are the origins of Australian English?

The reason why English is spoken in Australia is colonialism. British settlers arrived in 1788, claiming its territory as their own. From then on they imposed laws, culture and language on the Indigenous people of the land.

Many of those who arrived in Australia were convicted criminals. At the time, Britain's prisons were overcrowded, so transporting these people overseas was seen as a solution to a problem. Convicts had previously been sent to the USA, but as that country had now gained independence, this was no longer an option. Instead, prisoners and officers were sent on an eight-month journey to the other side of the world.

The new inhabitants came from all over the UK and Ireland, bringing a diverse range of accents with them. As a result, the way they spoke evolved into one that they all could understand. This rapid change became more gradual over time, leading to the Australian English that exists today.

Learn more about what makes Australia unique.

What does the Australian accent sound like?

Australian English is often considered to sound similar throughout the country. This is partly due to the widespread presence of some widely recognised accent features. For example:

• The vowel in words like price and time is often pronounced in a way that may sound more like ‘o-i’ than the ‘i’ you might expect.
• The vowel in words like mouth and town is often pronounced in a way that may sound more like ‘a-oo’ than the ‘ow’ you might expect.
• There is no ‘r’ sound at the end of words (such as near) or before other consonants (in words such as start)

However, there are some regional differences. An example of this is found in the state of South Australia, where you can hear something known as the TRAP-BATH split. Put simply, this means that people pronounce the words trap and bath differently, which is uncommon elsewhere in the country. For many South Australians, trap has a short vowel, while bath has a long one.

In addition, there is wide variation among Indigenous Australians and those with links to other parts of the world. When such diversity is shared, ways of speaking evolve. Accordingly, the Australian accent is always developing.

Want to hear some examples of Australian accents? The following video displays their variety and discusses their context.

Australian words and phrases

Wherever you go in Australia, you are likely to hear some distinctive words and expressions. Here are some notable examples:

Famous people with Australian accents

The culture of Australia has travelled the world alongside its many public figures. This has helped make the Australian accent familiar far beyond the country's shores.

Celebrities with Australian accents span entertainment, sport and politics. Actors including Wolverine star Hugh Jackman and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman are famous examples, as well as musicians such as Kylie Minogue and the Kid Laroi. Others include cricketers like Pat Cummins and David Warner, and footballers like Sam Kerr.

Explore more of the country's culture with the top places to visit in Australia.

What other languages are spoken in Australia?

Before the arrival of settlers, Indigenous people lived in the area known as Australia for more than 60,000 years. There were at least 250 Indigenous languages in Australia when it was colonised, of which more than half are spoken today.

Sadly, due to centuries of suppression, over 90 per cent of Indigenous languages are considered endangered. The most widely used are Yumplatok (Torres Strait Creole), Kriol, Djambarrpuyngu and Pitjantjatjara. Each have a few thousand speakers.

In recent years, Australia has welcomed newcomers from many different countries. This has resulted in numerous other languages being spoken by great numbers of people. More than 400 are used in households nationwide, with the most common being Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people speaking Punjabi grew by more than 100,000.

If you're interested in studying in Australia, we can help. Our guides to the country's best universities, university system and student cost of living are good places to start. Alternatively, you can start searching for courses in Australia with our simple search tool.