IMPORTANT NOTE: Some people can be offended by Ky's good natured, witty ribbing. Sad, but true. So a caveat: Please do NOT take ANY of this page too seriously!
Whereas in Australia the term "hi" seems an appropriate way to greet people, (as well as the overused "hey"), in America you'll hear "how you doin'", " 's goin on" or "'sup". You're also much more likely to greet strangers and say Hi a lot more - maybe we Aussies are just too lazy, or unfriendly :P And the restaurant staff are a LOT more friendly than in Oz, perhaps due to the reliance on tips for income. Do you guys remember that trip to Planet Hollywood in first year of uni? More of that ;).
"Tight": this is the new word for "cool".
"True That" "that's true". Yowch. Almost as painful as "my bad".
"I'm All About/I'm All Over...": "I (would) like..." as in "I'm all about seeing a King's game today".
"Dig": as in "I dig this girl". This one's still hanging in there.
"dope": good as in "that show's dope"
"My Bad": "my fault". And I've started using it...such is life!
"Got it goin' on!": as in "she has it..." means "she's a good sort" (not that I use that at home).
"Fine" : again to describe attrractive people
The following either produce laughter or confused looks from Americans.
"boot" (of a car): a trunk.
"boot" (as in basketball shoe, or footy boots). Just say shoe.
"doona": don't ask me why, but it's a "comforter". I guess this makes sense, since I have no idea where "doona" came from.
"petrol": called "gas" here. Yeah, "gas" really makes sense :P.
"rubbish bin": trash can
"Soft drink": say "soda". Also, don't say Lemonade unless you want Lemon Juice. Say 7 Up or Sprite. How inefficient!
"I reckon": something old people say, according to the peals of laughter this phrase induces in Americans.
"biscuit": is some kind of weird half-muffin half scone here. Call them "cookies".
"bingle": a small fender bender. Nah, I don't get it either.
"Mum": they say Mom, as you may know.
"heaps": Americans would say "a lot". As in "I like this place heaps".
"Cordial": this sophisticated artificially flavoured beverage is a staple in any True Blue/Dinky Di/Fair Dinkum Aussie's pantry. "Concentrate" is what the Americans call it, but it's differenet in that it's never more than 5% actual fruit juice.
"uni", "telly", "dunny", "chewy", "footy", "brekky", "arvo", "barbie": these ingenious, efficient Australianisms are just too confusing for Americans to figure out. Say the long form.
"singlet": call them "tank tops", even though an Aussie guy wouldn't be caught dead wearing a "tank top", although we will wear a singlet.
"mobile phone":they call them "cell phones". Mobile homes, mobile televisions...come one guys, you aren't travelling around the country in a "cellular home"...
"capsicum" - not even this rather gross green and red vegetable keeps its name. They're "bell peppers" which admittedly does sound nicer and makes sense.
"Cheers" or "Ta" - Australian for "Thanks"
"whinge" - whine, as in "have a whinge" or "whinger"