Lingua Aussie: Vocabulary
I still freeze sometimes when I hear words I'm not used to. I also freeze when I know I'm supposed to use them, pronounced as they are here, but don't, because I just think I'll sound like a dumbass trying to sound like an Australian. Yet when I say them the way I'm used to, well, I sound stupid anyway.
A living list:
Tomato(an easy one) - pronounced To-MAH-to
- pronounced with a short
aHerb- the
his included in pronunciation
- pronounced with a short
eCell phones- mobiles
- the hood of a car
- the trunk of a car
- bell pepper
Recently, Meredith and I were discussing what to make for dinner. She said in her Aussie way, "we can have toMAHtoes." I noted it in my brain, and added something to the list of dinner ingredients, repeating the items she had listed, including tomatoes. But saying "tomatoes" in my way immediately after she said it in hers just made the whole thing sound a little lame.
But there are times when I have no choice, such as when ordering a sandwich at Subway. I have to say capsicum. It's a bit wrong in my mind, but, well, I'm open to change.
There will be more. You'll be the first to know.
