Australian English Vs. American English: You must have realised that there are certain differences between Australian English and American English not only in terms of accents but also in vocabulary and spelling. We mostly come across these variations while watching TV series and movies of these two countries. Both of these countries have interesting differences in the way they write and pronounce certain words. Knowing these differences is crucial, especially for international students already living in these countries or planning to move. In this blog, we will be understanding some of these differences. So, let’s get started!
This Blog Includes:
Australian English Vs. American English: Differences in Spellings
Just like how Australian etiquette and culture are different from American etiquette and culture, so is the English of both countries. You’ll notice a lot of words with the same meaning but different spellings in Australian and American English. For example, it is ‘traveled’ in American English and ‘travelled’ in Australian English. Let’s look at some more examples to understand this better!
Differences in the use of ‘z’ and ‘s’
Australian and American English have different ways of spelling certain words, especially the ones containing ‘z’ and ‘s’. You’ll notice different spellings of the words ending with ‘yse’ and ‘ise’. For example, consider the following examples-
Australian: Analyse
American: Analyze
Australian: Realise
American: Realize
Differences in the use of ‘er’ and ‘re’
You must have also noticed while living at student housing in USA differences in spellings like ‘center’ and ‘centre’. Words ending with ‘re’ in Australian English end with ‘er’ in American English. Let’s look at an example to understand this-
Australian: Metre
American: Meter
Also Read: You must read our blog on Essentials For International Students While Studying broad
Australian English Vs. American English: Differences in Pronunciation
There are also differences between both types of English in terms of accents and pronunciation. While watching American sitcoms, you must have realised that American English is famous for its clearer /r/ sounds whereas Australian English tends to lose the /r/ sound if it is at the end of the word. On this basis, the word ‘smarter’ is pronounced /smɑrtər/ in American English and ‘smɑːtə’ in Australian English.
Differences in terms of Vocabulary
You’ll often notice the difference between American English and Australian English in terms of vocabulary while your stay in student housing in Australia or in America. Different words are used to express the same thing. For example, consider the examples mentioned below in the table-
| American English | Australian English |
| Sweets | Lollies |
| French fries | Hot chips |
| Sneakers | Runners |
Though Australian English is most similar to British English, in a few cases, it is not. For example, it is ‘drinks’ in both American and British English but ‘bevvies’ in Australian English in common usage.
Also Read: Check out our blog on How To Spend Free Time as an International Student
FAQs on Australian English Vs. American English
American English is different from Australian English in terms of spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, and sayings. For example, if you are tired then you would say you’re ‘exhausted’ in American English and ‘buggered’ in Australian English.
Certain words are spelled differently in both countries, for instance, it is ‘organise’ in Australian English and ‘organize’ in American English’.
Australian English is most similar to British English. You’ll find a lot of similarities between both in terms of sentence structure and spelling. However, there are differences in terms of vocabulary and accent.
It is ‘apologise’ in Australian and British English. However, it is ‘apologize’ in American English.
It is spelled ‘colour’ in both Australian and British English. However, you’ll notice the spelling ‘color’ in American English.
This blog was all about the differences between Australian and American English. For booking the best accommodation abroad to start your study abroad experience you can contact Fly Homes at 1800572118.
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