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Aussie lingo, then and now Trivia Quiz

Here are a few questions relating to Australian English. They represent a mix of origins and crossovers from 'Old World' dialects and Aboriginal terms to relatively new words and their constantly evolving definitions.

A multiple-choice quiz by boofhead54. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
boofhead54

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
321,522

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
618

Question 1 of 10

1. Aboriginal Australians used this word to call over distances. Today, it is used by people from all walks of life, to call over distances or over the back fence, to say "here I am" or just to gain someone's attention. Hint

cooee

roodoo

heydoo

youdere

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Question 2 of 10

2. "She just keeps coming back!", much like the meaning of her first name, which is another name for a boomerang. What's the name? Hint

Susie

Kylie

Lubra

Jedda

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the word, adapted by Aborigines from English and now used around the world, which means to go off alone to find yourself? Hint

runaround

walkabout

meandering

emuchasing

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these is a word which originated in the 19th century English midlands, which once meant 'work' and now means 'genuine'? Hint

fairee

dandy

dinkum

straight

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the term used for the time when the earth and all living things were created by the 'rainbow serpent'? Hint

dreamtime

soultime

headtime

borning

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of these refers to an ordinary worker, down on their luck, but never going to give up? Hint

battler

soldier

fighter

gum tree

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who or what is a boofhead? Hint

An intellectual

A large stupid person, or one with an irregularly or oversized head

A ballet dancer

An effeminate footballer

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Question 8 of 10

8. An American would say 'sidekick'. What word would an Australian use? Hint

offsider

cobber

assistant

shadow

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Question 9 of 10

9. The meaning for 'dag' or 'daggy' has changed since it was first used in the 19th century. What had it come to mean by the end of the twentieth century? Hint

an ill-mannered dolt

a braggart

a religious fundamentalist

a lovable nerd

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Question 10 of 10

10. Australians often change the ends of words or names so that they end in O or IE. With that in mind, which of these is a word for "afternoon"? Hint

arfie

arvo

arfette

arfell

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: cooee

Is also used as a measurement of distance, as in the saying "not within cooee".

2. "She just keeps coming back!", much like the meaning of her first name, which is another name for a boomerang. What's the name?

Answer: Kylie

"Kylie" is a word for "boomerang", but whether this is the origin of the name is under dispute. "Kylie" is also an Anglo female form of Kyle.

3. What is the word, adapted by Aborigines from English and now used around the world, which means to go off alone to find yourself?

Answer: walkabout

Although this is a word used in both cultures, it has far greater spiritual significance for most Australian aboriginals.

4. Which of these is a word which originated in the 19th century English midlands, which once meant 'work' and now means 'genuine'?

Answer: dinkum

Also used in the form of "she's dinky di mate!", "dinkum" means honest and fair. The use of "she" does not necessarily mean a female.

5. What is the term used for the time when the earth and all living things were created by the 'rainbow serpent'?

Answer: dreamtime

When an aboriginal speaks about his dreaming it can mean many things, some which will always remain secret to the white man -- so I can not tell you, even if I knew. "Dreamtime" also refers to the time of creation.

6. Which of these refers to an ordinary worker, down on their luck, but never going to give up?

Answer: battler

This is an affectionate term for people in tough circumstances, as in "little Aussie battlers".

7. Who or what is a boofhead?

Answer: A large stupid person, or one with an irregularly or oversized head

This can also be a term of endearment, as can most insults in Australia.

8. An American would say 'sidekick'. What word would an Australian use?

Answer: offsider

A father will often refer to his child as "me little offsider", or use the term for a partner in a work situation.

9. The meaning for 'dag' or 'daggy' has changed since it was first used in the 19th century. What had it come to mean by the end of the twentieth century?

Answer: a lovable nerd

The original meaning was the dried excrement caught on the wool around a sheep's backside. Today, it can also mean someone totally uncool, e.g. "you're such a dag Dad!"

10. Australians often change the ends of words or names so that they end in O or IE. With that in mind, which of these is a word for "afternoon"?

Answer: arvo

Many of these words will have been coined by children, who are usually the greatest innovators of language. "Arvo" was used from my time in the 1950s and 60s. For example, you might hear "See ya at my place this arvo!"

Source: Author boofhead54

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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