Category:

Australia

Australian English

Australian culture

What is one of Australia's iconic sounds?

By Nick Nasev

May 18, 2026

min read

What is one of the most Australian of sounds?

No, not a kookaburra call.

The PB/5 pedestrian crossing signal... and I find it beautiful!

And it’s loud!

This signal can also be encountered at pedestrian crossings in New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland and other countries. Billie Eilish even sampled the sound in her 2019 song Bad Boy.

Since it was introduced in 1984, the organisation Good Design Australia has recognised its distinctive sound as an icon of Australian design. Recordings of the sound can also be found in museum collections.

You can hear what it sounds like here...

Hi, zdravo, bok, zdravei, g'day! I’m Nick Nasev, an Aussie of Balkan background living in the UK. I’ve been a translator and editor for 20+ years. If you have an interest in languages and all things Balkan, Eastern European, Australian and beyond, along with a dash of corny and irony, then stick with me as I rant about my experiences and stories.

Your text deserves to be taken seriously; have it translated and edited with confidence.

info@nicknasev.com

Contact me with the details of your text at info@nicknasev.com

Continue reading

July 4, 2024

min read

Who's gonna win: Sunderland or Newcastle? Fancy a Democracy Sausage? Or take a ride on the "Bulgarian Train"

Vote-count competitions between rival cities? How a mundane sausage in generic white bread is the epitome of mass democratic participation in Australia. And why a Bulgarian train is not a train. The weird world of election traditions.

June 30, 2024

min read

Pets on public transport: yes or no? 👍👎

Australians adore pets... but not on public transport. How come?

June 30, 2024

min read

Accadacca at 50!

One of the world's biggest ever rock bands has turned 50!

June 21, 2024

min read

Australian English: "We're de factos!"

Many Australians are in "de facto relationships". What are these and how do they differ from marriage?

June 20, 2024

min read

What would you do if...

World Refugee Day today. What would you if this happened to you?

June 14, 2024

min read

It's Men's Health Week... and I'm 15 years cancer-free!!!

The story of how I found out by chance that I no longer had cancer

June 11, 2024

min read

Packets, Shoppers and Bangers. Pseudo-Anglicisms at a Russian Shop.

Do you know your "shopper" from your "packet"? Let's find out more about Russian pseudo-anglicisms.

May 23, 2024

min read

Burger King vs Hungry Jacks. Is there a difference?

Is Burger King the drama? How come there's no Burger King in Australia but you can still get a Whopper? A story of how a technicality turned an alternative brand into a part of local Australian identity, and how that was almost usurped.

May 22, 2024

min read

Poor Gina...

The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Australia's richest woman, mining magnate Gina Rinehart got more than what she bargained for when she wanted a portrait of her taken down. And how does wine figure into this too?

April 6, 2024

min read

ABBA can thank Australia for the music!

50 years after ABBA won the Eurovision Song Content, it was Australia that set the tone for ABBA's fortunes over the decades. This is their Australian story.

March 26, 2024

min read

Why Nickipedia?

The story behind the name...

October 23, 2023

min read

You know that time when Madonna was interviewed by a Hungarian tabloid? Or when translation goes hilariously bad…

We all know how some translations can be so bad that they’re unintentionally hilarious, like the viral examples from Engrish.com...

September 14, 2023

min read

Working in IT? What do you call yourself? An IT-ian, a Hitechist…?

Working in IT? 👩🏻‍💻 Would you call yourself an IT-ian, Hitechist or Startupist?

September 11, 2023

min read

Back from my research road trip of Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

Back from a week researching around Montenegro 🇲🇪, Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 and Croatia 🇭🇷 with a writer friend of mine. An amazing time! 🚗

August 31, 2023

min read

Australian etiquette: the Outback Driving Wave

It’s all about being friendly when driving out in “woop woop” (the middle of nowhere) in Australia. A definite must-do!

August 28, 2023

min read

Watch out for the killer squirrels! It’s “silly season”… or is that “cucumber season”?

Watch out for the killer squirrels! 🐿️ We’re very much in “silly season” right now in the UK 🤪

August 26, 2023

min read

Tina Turner… Australian cultural icon!

Did you know that Tina Turner has been one of the biggest contributors to Australian culture? 🦘 Honestly, her impact has been huge! Here’s how…

August 25, 2023

min read

Луд купон, the “crazy coupon” Bulgarian party

So who’s having a “crazy coupon” this weekend? 🎉 Wait!✋ A crazy coupon?🎟️😲 What’s that?

August 24, 2023

min read

You do Montenegrin and Bosnian, right?

Two more language directions have been added to my Institute of Translation and Interpreting profile

August 23, 2023

min read

Five common myths about raising bilingual children

Surprising as it may be, I was once a child, but one who happened to grow up in a multilingual environment but dominated by English.

May 18, 2026

min read

What is one of Australia's iconic sounds?

No, it's nothing to do with an animal call. It's a sound that international music stars have even sampled...

May 13, 2026

min read

Australian English: '-or' vs '-our'

"But '-or' spellings are American?" has said many an Aussie. But are they really? Not exactly. Find out how and where there are exceptions to the rule in Australian English.

May 8, 2026

min read

Why Australian media give warnings of deceased Indigenous people?

The recent case of Kumajayi Little Baby shows how Australian media handle indigenous mourning protocols. Here are the details and background to them.

April 25, 2026

min read

Australian English: Anzac Day

Parades, dawn services, two-up, biscuits... What you need to know about Australia (and New Zealand's) veteran's day. Plus, why the day is more important to some Aussies than others.

April 3, 2026

min read

Australian English: Easter and shops

What's open and what's not this Easter in Australia...Time to give a real-life example of Australian English.

March 27, 2026

min read

Australian English: pokies

Found in most pubs, clubs and casinos throughout Australia, the pokies are an important feature of Australian social culture. But what are they? Find out here...

March 24, 2026

min read

You fetta believe it! Australian feta, parmesan and prosecco remain.

Feta or white cheese? Prosecco or sparkling wine? How will the new EU-Australia free-trade agreement (not) affect the terms Aussies use for certain products

March 18, 2026

min read

Australian English: farewell and vale

No, I'm not leaving here. Linguistically, Australians actually have unique ways of bidding farewell to someone who's going for a long time... or forever.

February 23, 2026

min read

Australian English: to farewell

Yet another unexpected Australian-ism I and an internet superstar recently discovered...

February 18, 2026

min read

Australian English: demo

Aussies love shortening words and ending cutesy endings to them. But what happens when the same shortened word could mean multiple things?

February 16, 2026

min read

Australians laughing at ChatGPT's US English default when Aussies use it

If Australia's answer to the Onion is making fun of how AI uses US English as a default, then that means Aussies notice when you're using it in your text and copy. But there's a solution to this...

January 29, 2026

min read

Australian English: pay out

Yet another quirky Aussie phrasal verb that has a completely different meaning to what you'd think

January 2, 2026

min read

When coins matter: stotinki and sixpence for Christmas

Big issue of the day – what coin do you use for your lucky-coin Christmas tradition? It matters to many in the Balkans AND Australia

December 26, 2025

min read

SBS is 50!

Australia's unique multicultural broadcaster, SBS, turned 50 in 2025. Here's an insight into what SBS was like in the 1980s and how it enriched Australia, all of its people... and me.

December 23, 2025

min read

Christmas in Australia: ho ho ho in the summer heat!

Christmas in the long hot days of summer? Yes, that's the case in Australia. Here's a rundown of how Aussies do Chrissie...

December 20, 2025

min read

Australian English: If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!

Where did this classic Aussie saying come from and how did it change Australia dramatically...

December 14, 2025

min read

Why the shooting in Australia cuts deep…

The place that beaches, particularly its most iconic, have on the Australian psyche is what makes the Bondi shooting hit hard with Aussies...

December 7, 2025

min read

Australian English: regional

You start your application to migrate to Australia and then you come across all these references to "regional". What does this term mean specifically in Australia? All explained here.

October 27, 2025

min read

I wanna go on a Jet2 holiday too!

What's cool in one place can be completely passé elsewhere. But who's to know these things?

October 23, 2025

min read

Australian English: Ugg boots

The whole world seems it can't get enough of Australia's own Ugg boots. But do you know Aussies (and Kiwis) follow a strict rule when it comes to the fleecy footwear?

October 20, 2025

min read

So what's the latest with Australian English?

Back from my Aussie trip. Here are some things about Aussie English I discovered this time.

October 16, 2025

min read

Australian English: Abbo

Australian English loves shortening words and names and banging an '-ie' or '-o' at the end. But you need to be careful when to do it, as this case shows...

October 10, 2025

min read

Australian English: donga

Dongas come in many sizes and are often found Down Under in the outback. What's an Australian donga and the disputed origin of the term...

October 9, 2025

min read

Australian English: FIFO, DIDO and BIBO

Three work-related Australian acronyms heard very often throughout the country. Do you know what they mean? And what work is associated with them?

September 13, 2025

min read

September is not when school starts in Australia...

When targeting your copy and text for Australia, you also need to take into account that our calendar is different.

September 10, 2025

min read

Australian English: thongs

Aussies love wearing thongs outdoors. But does "thongs" mean the same in Australia as it does in other countries? Find out here...

September 1, 2025

min read

Australian English: showbag

Find out more about this uniquely Australian item, much loved by Aussie kids and adults through the decades, and how come it's an essential part of any ongoing marketing campaign for many products and brands in Australia.

August 29, 2025

min read

Australian English: BOM

Aussies often mention "the bomb" when talking about the weather. Why bomb?

July 29, 2025

min read

Neighbours' greatest con and contribution to the world...

Do you know what the biggest thing the long-running Australian TV series Neighbours brought to the world? And why did the soap show a rather skewed image of Australian suburbia?

July 11, 2025

min read

Australian English: working bee, op shop, street directory

The last round of unique Australian English terms that I've discovered by chance.

June 30, 2025

min read

How to handle the heat! Ask an Aussie...

It's extremely hot in northern Europe! So it's best to ask Aussies for tips on dealing with the heat.

June 27, 2025

min read

Iced coffee: gay or straight?

Let's settle this... is the popular caffeinated beverage one for the gays or one for the blokes?

June 23, 2025

min read

If it's not on, it's not on

How an Australian 1990s safe sex slogan skillfully used the many meanings of a common colloquial phrasal verb to great effect. But would this work for an international audience?

June 15, 2025

min read

Is it Father's Day in Australia and New Zealand this Sunday?

Are you sure that Father's Day in Australia and New Zealand is in June?

June 11, 2025

min read

To feta or white cheese it, that's the question

Trade negotiations between the EU and Australia fell through over the names of cheeses and wines, of all things. But will a restart of negotiations bring about a breakthrough? And what product name should you use for the Australian market?

June 6, 2025

min read

Australian English: abroad vs overseas

There are a number of seemingly ordinary English words that can get Aussies thinking 'that's not right'. Here's the case with one...?

May 28, 2025

min read

Australian English: So what happened to all those Covid-related slang words?

Rona, RAT, quazza... remembering the now-lost Aussie slang of the early 2020s Covid pandemic

May 20, 2025

min read

Australian English: smoko, bludge, chuck a sickie

Bludging on a smoko as if you've chucked a sickie? Welcome to work-related Australian English vocab about not working!

May 15, 2025

min read

So why is Australia at Eurovision?

It's not in Europe, so why is Australia at Eurovision? There are plenty of reasons why...

May 14, 2025

min read

Australian English: wag

No, it's not what you might think. A classic case of an Australian English term going from slang to accepted formal speech

May 11, 2025

min read

Did you know that Mother's Day used to be a day of protest?

It may be now more about giving a gift but Mother's Day was also a day of protest. More here...

May 2, 2025

min read

*What everyone's been asking: Are you allowed to draw a penis on a ballot paper and have your vote count in Australia?

Australians regularly bombard their country's Electoral Commission with important queries... such as about the legalities of drawing penises on ballot papers!

April 29, 2025

min read

Australian English: little boys

Get the tomato sauce out, we're having little boys! But what does this term mean for some Aussies?

April 24, 2025

min read

Australian English: biscuit... and the 'c' word!

Aussies love their biscuits, but call them by the 'c' word can even get you fined! What word is this?

April 23, 2025

min read

Chinwag Tuesday podcast with Amanda Boyne

Want to hear how I speak in Australian English with another Australian English specialist? Here's your chance

April 20, 2025

min read

Australian English: Sharpies and Textas (texters)

You can tell how old an Australian is by asking what these terms mean, and what does this have to do with Australia's only ever truly local youth sub-culture?

April 13, 2025

min read

Did you know? In Australia you need to press the Stop button when you want to get off the bus.

Useful or extremely obvious? Well, it's never wise to assume...

April 4, 2025

min read

Australian English: your Australian election vocab list

Liberal, teal, electorate, corflute, democracy sausage... Here's your indispensable guide to Australian election terminology

March 4, 2025

min read

Australian English: on your L's and P's

Do you know what "she's on her P's" means? It's something all Australians understand. And how does this relate to a term that's different in most English-dominant countries?

February 28, 2025

min read

Australian English: tap, tag or touch?

How do you describe using a payment card to use public transport in Australia? It depends where in Australia you are...

February 27, 2025

min read

Australian English: maths or math

Want to get Aussies angry? Ask this mathematical question...

February 4, 2025

min read

Australian English: village

Are there villages in Australia? Well, yes, but not how the rest of the world sees it. Find out what makes a village in Oz...

January 29, 2025

min read

Do I translate into Australian?

Many people are shocked when they find out I'm a translator, but their jaws drop even more when I tell them that I also 'translate' into Australian English.

January 25, 2025

min read

Australia Day or Invasion Day?

Australia's national day is on 26 January, but it's not a date universally accepted by all Aussies. Find out why Australia Day is so divisive...

January 25, 2025

min read

Australia Day/Invasion Day: the Lamb Ad!

Would you believe that one of the most anticipated events in the lead-up to Australia's national day on 26 January is... an ad about eating lamb! More about the vibe here...

December 24, 2024

min read

Anyone up for a 'Krizmoz parti'?

Do you know your Krizmoz from your Bozhik? How some Orthodox Christians in diaspora communities differentiate between the two Christmases.

December 19, 2024

min read

Australia and New Zealand do seasons a little differently...

Why wishing your clients, friends and relatives in Australia a happy start to summer on December 21st is not the way to do it...

December 11, 2024

min read

Australian English: peanut butter or peanut paste?

Tread carefully! The extraordinary story of this salty Australian regionalism and how it can ignite passions worthy of a civil war.

November 7, 2024

min read

What's the name of this famous Australian natural landmark?

One of Australia's most visited tourist sites has two official names, but Aussies almost exclusively use one of them. Do you know which one?

November 4, 2024

min read

Australians... easy-going and laid-back?

Australians like to see themselves as "easy-going" and "laid-back". But are they really?

November 1, 2024

min read

Australian English: one for the Petrolheads!

Aussies love their cars, so here are a few car-related words for you...

October 29, 2024

min read

Australia and trick-or-treating... a minefield

If there's anything that can get some Aussies hot under the collar, it's this...

September 11, 2024

min read

Australian English: is it email and/or e-mail?

Welcome to confusion with "email" in Australia. It's generational...

September 1, 2024

min read

Australian English: scull/skull, stinker, flow-on effect, rock up, slippery dip...

Here's the latest round up of some uniquely Aussie words to add to your vocabulary...

August 3, 2024

min read

Jumping Jai Taurima, Australian Olympic Legend...

Because of, or despite, his very unconventional but trés Aussie approach to training, he won silver at the 2000 Olympics. You won't believe how...

July 31, 2024

min read

Australian (Olympics) English: battered sav, hello boys, crazy date, flat bags, goose...

How a comedy routine during the 2000 Sydney Olympics provided Australia with its own, very naughty, gymnastics lexicon!

July 28, 2024

min read

Why are Aussies so good at swimming?

To get away from the sharks! Nah, it's more than that.

July 25, 2024

min read

The [enter place name] Olympics are going to be a disaster...

Or perhaps not. It wouldn't be an Olympics if there wasn't impending doom. But how has it actually turned out?

July 4, 2024

min read

Who's gonna win: Sunderland or Newcastle? Fancy a Democracy Sausage? Or take a ride on the "Bulgarian Train"

June 30, 2024

min read

Pets on public transport: yes or no? 👍👎

Australians adore pets... but not on public transport. How come?

June 30, 2024

min read

Accadacca at 50!

One of the world's biggest ever rock bands has turned 50!

June 21, 2024

min read

Australian English: "We're de factos!"

Many Australians are in "de facto relationships". What are these and how do they differ from marriage?

May 23, 2024

min read

Burger King vs Hungry Jacks. Is there a difference?

May 22, 2024

min read

Poor Gina...

April 6, 2024

min read

ABBA can thank Australia for the music!

50 years after ABBA won the Eurovision Song Content, it was Australia that set the tone for ABBA's fortunes over the decades. This is their Australian story.

August 31, 2023

min read

Australian etiquette: the Outback Driving Wave

It’s all about being friendly when driving out in “woop woop” (the middle of nowhere) in Australia. A definite must-do!

June 26, 2023

min read

Homonyms maketh the sentence…

How do you say in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin or Serbian this: “Up there, the mountains burn worse”?👉 Gore gore gore gore.

June 22, 2023

min read

So what are Fantales?

They are chocolate-covered chewy caramels 🍬 that were often so hard to bite into that they kept many dentists in business 🦷. Nothing particularly unique so far, you might think.

June 1, 2023

min read

Happy 50th anniversary to the Adelaide Festival Centre!

🎉 50 years ago today, the Adelaide Festival Centre, the premier performing and visual arts venue and precinct in Adelaide, Australia, opened. The centre to this day remains one of the symbols of Adelaide. 🇦🇺

May 11, 2023

min read

How come Australia is at Eurovision? It’s actually a perfect marketing opportunity…

Time to get out the sequins and huge props. The world’s most watched non-sports TV show is on, the Eurovision Song Contest 🎤. Tonight is the second semi-final, with 16 acts from Europe… and Australia.

April 24, 2023

min read

Vale Barry Humphries!

Last Saturday Australian 🇦🇺 🎭 comedy legend Barry Humphries passed away aged 89.

April 12, 2023

min read

Australian English: "You can find the Doonas in Manchester”

Now this might sound a bit random but this is something you’ll hear all the time, in all places, in department stores in Australia. How come?

April 11, 2023

min read

Eshays and Adlays: Australia’s answer to London’s Roadmen

Eshays and Adlays: the latest bunch of Pig-Latin-speaking, Nike-wearing young bogans (vilified poor working-class people) to cause massive moral panic in Australia 🇦🇺

April 7, 2023

min read

Move over Easter Bunny 🐇 … make way for the Easter Bilby! 🪃

Bunnies are considered cute and loveable… except in Australia 🇦🇺, where they’re a major scourge🤬.

March 28, 2023

min read

The time when George Bush Senior figuratively told the Aussies where to go…

Have you unwittingly done a hand gesture that meant something completely different in another country? Here’s a true story…

March 10, 2023

min read

Australian English: Calisthenics

Calisthenics is a form of body strength training worldwide. Not in Australia though, where "calisthenics" has a completely different meaning.

March 8, 2023

min read

International Women’s Day (IWD). A day of campaigning ♀ … or a day to buy flowers 💐

🪃 In Australia, IWD is a day of campaigning and awareness, elements that are much closer to the day’s original purpose of bringing mainstream attention to issues affecting women.

May 18, 2026

min read

What is one of Australia's iconic sounds?

No, it's nothing to do with an animal call. It's a sound that international music stars have even sampled...

May 13, 2026

min read

Australian English: '-or' vs '-our'

"But '-or' spellings are American?" has said many an Aussie. But are they really? Not exactly. Find out how and where there are exceptions to the rule in Australian English.

May 8, 2026

min read

Why Australian media give warnings of deceased Indigenous people?

The recent case of Kumajayi Little Baby shows how Australian media handle indigenous mourning protocols. Here are the details and background to them.

April 25, 2026

min read

Australian English: Anzac Day

Parades, dawn services, two-up, biscuits... What you need to know about Australia (and New Zealand's) veteran's day. Plus, why the day is more important to some Aussies than others.

April 3, 2026

min read

Australian English: Easter and shops

What's open and what's not this Easter in Australia...Time to give a real-life example of Australian English.

March 27, 2026

min read

Australian English: pokies

Found in most pubs, clubs and casinos throughout Australia, the pokies are an important feature of Australian social culture. But what are they? Find out here...

March 24, 2026

min read

You fetta believe it! Australian feta, parmesan and prosecco remain.

Feta or white cheese? Prosecco or sparkling wine? How will the new EU-Australia free-trade agreement (not) affect the terms Aussies use for certain products

March 18, 2026

min read

Australian English: farewell and vale

No, I'm not leaving here. Linguistically, Australians actually have unique ways of bidding farewell to someone who's going for a long time... or forever.

February 23, 2026

min read

Australian English: to farewell

Yet another unexpected Australian-ism I and an internet superstar recently discovered...

February 18, 2026

min read

Australian English: demo

Aussies love shortening words and ending cutesy endings to them. But what happens when the same shortened word could mean multiple things?

February 16, 2026

min read

Australians laughing at ChatGPT's US English default when Aussies use it

If Australia's answer to the Onion is making fun of how AI uses US English as a default, then that means Aussies notice when you're using it in your text and copy. But there's a solution to this...

February 2, 2026

min read

How you can tell that an Australian wrote English text... without being told?

Are your international customers getting your message? Are you aware that some of the words, phrases and terms you use could have no or a different meaning elsewhere. That's where you need your copy and text reviewed for your target audience.

January 29, 2026

min read

Australian English: pay out

Yet another quirky Aussie phrasal verb that has a completely different meaning to what you'd think

December 23, 2025

min read

Christmas in Australia: ho ho ho in the summer heat!

Christmas in the long hot days of summer? Yes, that's the case in Australia. Here's a rundown of how Aussies do Chrissie...

December 20, 2025

min read

Australian English: If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!

Where did this classic Aussie saying come from and how did it change Australia dramatically...

December 7, 2025

min read

Australian English: regional

You start your application to migrate to Australia and then you come across all these references to "regional". What does this term mean specifically in Australia? All explained here.

December 3, 2025

min read

Australian English: bushwalking

A bushwalk, tramp or hike? They all mean the same thing, just they're country-dependent. Which countries?

October 23, 2025

min read

Australian English: Ugg boots

The whole world seems it can't get enough of Australia's own Ugg boots. But do you know Aussies (and Kiwis) follow a strict rule when it comes to the fleecy footwear?

October 20, 2025

min read

So what's the latest with Australian English?

Back from my Aussie trip. Here are some things about Aussie English I discovered this time.

October 16, 2025

min read

Australian English: Abbo

Australian English loves shortening words and names and banging an '-ie' or '-o' at the end. But you need to be careful when to do it, as this case shows...

October 14, 2025

min read

So I go all the way to Australia to do this...

Off to the beach? Avoid the snakes and sharks? No... something completely different but expected from me.

October 10, 2025

min read

Australian English: donga

Dongas come in many sizes and are often found Down Under in the outback. What's an Australian donga and the disputed origin of the term...

October 9, 2025

min read

Australian English: FIFO, DIDO and BIBO

Three work-related Australian acronyms heard very often throughout the country. Do you know what they mean? And what work is associated with them?

October 7, 2025

min read

Australian English: quenda vs qanda

Quenda or qanda? These two uniquely Australian terms may sound the same but refer to two very different things. Find out more here...

September 13, 2025

min read

September is not when school starts in Australia...

When targeting your copy and text for Australia, you also need to take into account that our calendar is different.

September 10, 2025

min read

Australian English: thongs

Aussies love wearing thongs outdoors. But does "thongs" mean the same in Australia as it does in other countries? Find out here...

September 1, 2025

min read

Australian English: showbag

August 29, 2025

min read

Australian English: BOM

Aussies often mention "the bomb" when talking about the weather. Why bomb?

August 17, 2025

min read

Australian English: VP Day

Even historic international events can have different names in Australia, such as the victory in World War II.

July 31, 2025

min read

Australian English: programme vs program

Which one is the accepted spelling in Australia? You might be surprised at the answer!

July 29, 2025

min read

Neighbours' greatest con and contribution to the world...

Do you know what the biggest thing the long-running Australian TV series Neighbours brought to the world? And why did the soap show a rather skewed image of Australian suburbia?

July 23, 2025

min read

Australian English: shopping centre vs mall

Are these terms the same in Australia? Well, it depends, but it comes with a major warning. And what's the generic trademark some Aussies use instead?

July 16, 2025

min read

How did I get to know about Australian English?

What can I say? How I learnt what makes Australian English what it is by simple communication and more. And what are the two things most native English speakers don't realise?

July 11, 2025

min read

Australian English: working bee, op shop, street directory

The last round of unique Australian English terms that I've discovered by chance.

June 23, 2025

min read

If it's not on, it's not on

How an Australian 1990s safe sex slogan skillfully used the many meanings of a common colloquial phrasal verb to great effect. But would this work for an international audience?

June 15, 2025

min read

Is it Father's Day in Australia and New Zealand this Sunday?

Are you sure that Father's Day in Australia and New Zealand is in June?

June 11, 2025

min read

To feta or white cheese it, that's the question

June 6, 2025

min read

Australian English: abroad vs overseas

There are a number of seemingly ordinary English words that can get Aussies thinking 'that's not right'. Here's the case with one...?

May 28, 2025

min read

Australian English: So what happened to all those Covid-related slang words?

Rona, RAT, quazza... remembering the now-lost Aussie slang of the early 2020s Covid pandemic

May 20, 2025

min read

Australian English: smoko, bludge, chuck a sickie

Bludging on a smoko as if you've chucked a sickie? Welcome to work-related Australian English vocab about not working!

May 14, 2025

min read

Australian English: wag

No, it's not what you might think. A classic case of an Australian English term going from slang to accepted formal speech

April 29, 2025

min read

Australian English: little boys

Get the tomato sauce out, we're having little boys! But what does this term mean for some Aussies?

April 24, 2025

min read

Australian English: biscuit... and the 'c' word!

Aussies love their biscuits, but call them by the 'c' word can even get you fined! What word is this?

April 23, 2025

min read

Chinwag Tuesday podcast with Amanda Boyne

Want to hear how I speak in Australian English with another Australian English specialist? Here's your chance

April 20, 2025

min read

Australian English: Sharpies and Textas (texters)

You can tell how old an Australian is by asking what these terms mean, and what does this have to do with Australia's only ever truly local youth sub-culture?

April 4, 2025

min read

Australian English: your Australian election vocab list

Liberal, teal, electorate, corflute, democracy sausage... Here's your indispensable guide to Australian election terminology

March 4, 2025

min read

Australian English: on your L's and P's

Do you know what "she's on her P's" means? It's something all Australians understand. And how does this relate to a term that's different in most English-dominant countries?

February 28, 2025

min read

Australian English: tap, tag or touch?

How do you describe using a payment card to use public transport in Australia? It depends where in Australia you are...

February 27, 2025

min read

Australian English: maths or math

Want to get Aussies angry? Ask this mathematical question...

February 4, 2025

min read

Australian English: village

Are there villages in Australia? Well, yes, but not how the rest of the world sees it. Find out what makes a village in Oz...

January 29, 2025

min read

Do I translate into Australian?

Many people are shocked when they find out I'm a translator, but their jaws drop even more when I tell them that I also 'translate' into Australian English.

January 25, 2025

min read

Australia Day/Invasion Day: the Lamb Ad!

Would you believe that one of the most anticipated events in the lead-up to Australia's national day on 26 January is... an ad about eating lamb! More about the vibe here...

December 24, 2024

min read

Anyone up for a 'Krizmoz parti'?

Do you know your Krizmoz from your Bozhik? How some Orthodox Christians in diaspora communities differentiate between the two Christmases.

December 19, 2024

min read

Australia and New Zealand do seasons a little differently...

Why wishing your clients, friends and relatives in Australia a happy start to summer on December 21st is not the way to do it...

December 11, 2024

min read

Australian English: peanut butter or peanut paste?

Tread carefully! The extraordinary story of this salty Australian regionalism and how it can ignite passions worthy of a civil war.

December 8, 2024

min read

Australian English: deffo, devo, defo...

Australian English is famous for its diminutives, i.e. shortened words. Do you know what these ones mean?

November 26, 2024

min read

Macquarie Dictionary's 2024 word of the year is...

Australia's prime source for all things Australian English has picked its word for 2024. And this time, I agree!

November 19, 2024

min read

Indian and Australian English... the links between them

India and Australia have common bonds that go beyond a passion for cricket. Here are a few words that Indian and Australian English uniquely share...

November 7, 2024

min read

What's the name of this famous Australian natural landmark?

One of Australia's most visited tourist sites has two official names, but Aussies almost exclusively use one of them. Do you know which one?

November 1, 2024

min read

Australian English: one for the Petrolheads!

Aussies love their cars, so here are a few car-related words for you...

October 23, 2024

min read

Can the "world's most accurate translator" do Australian English?

Does DeepL live up to its claim of being "the world's most accurate translator" when it comes to Aussie English? Get ready for some zingers!

September 11, 2024

min read

Australian English: is it email and/or e-mail?

Welcome to confusion with "email" in Australia. It's generational...

September 1, 2024

min read

Australian English: scull/skull, stinker, flow-on effect, rock up, slippery dip...

Here's the latest round up of some uniquely Aussie words to add to your vocabulary...

August 5, 2024

min read

Australian English, Olympics edition: "Boomers croak in medal tilt"

Do you get what is being said here? Unless you're Australian, it's not what you think...

July 31, 2024

min read

Australian (Olympics) English: battered sav, hello boys, crazy date, flat bags, goose...

How a comedy routine during the 2000 Sydney Olympics provided Australia with its own, very naughty, gymnastics lexicon!

July 28, 2024

min read

Why are Aussies so good at swimming?

To get away from the sharks! Nah, it's more than that.

June 21, 2024

min read

Australian English: "We're de factos!"

Many Australians are in "de facto relationships". What are these and how do they differ from marriage?

May 23, 2024

min read

Burger King vs Hungry Jacks. Is there a difference?

May 22, 2024

min read

Poor Gina...

August 31, 2023

min read

Australian etiquette: the Outback Driving Wave

It’s all about being friendly when driving out in “woop woop” (the middle of nowhere) in Australia. A definite must-do!

August 28, 2023

min read

Watch out for the killer squirrels! It’s “silly season”… or is that “cucumber season”?

Watch out for the killer squirrels! 🐿️ We’re very much in “silly season” right now in the UK 🤪

August 14, 2023

min read

Three everyday words that exist in Australian English only!

Ask what’s most unique about Australian English 🪃, the answers usually are our accent and slang✔️. However, there are also a number of uniquely Australian English words in regular use, even in formal situations, that Australians are surprised to find are not used everywhere else in the English-speaking world (OK, sometimes also in New Zealand🥝, […]

June 30, 2023

min read

Watch out, here comes the Aussie version of The Office…

Are you a fan of the cult TV comedy show The Office?🕺And which version: the UK one 🇬🇧? The US one 🇺🇸? The French one 🇫🇷? The Indian one 🇮🇳 or any of the other 13 variants made? 📣 News in is that an Australian 🇦🇺 version of The Office will be hitting our screens […]

June 22, 2023

min read

So what are Fantales?

They are chocolate-covered chewy caramels 🍬 that were often so hard to bite into that they kept many dentists in business 🦷. Nothing particularly unique so far, you might think.

May 29, 2023

min read

What’s a “bank holiday”? Do Aussies say that too?

Do Aussies have "bank holidays" like in the UK? Well, it's complicated

April 24, 2023

min read

Vale Barry Humphries!

Last Saturday Australian 🇦🇺 🎭 comedy legend Barry Humphries passed away aged 89.

April 12, 2023

min read

Australian English: "You can find the Doonas in Manchester”

Now this might sound a bit random but this is something you’ll hear all the time, in all places, in department stores in Australia. How come?

April 11, 2023

min read

Eshays and Adlays: Australia’s answer to London’s Roadmen

Eshays and Adlays: the latest bunch of Pig-Latin-speaking, Nike-wearing young bogans (vilified poor working-class people) to cause massive moral panic in Australia 🇦🇺

April 7, 2023

min read

Move over Easter Bunny 🐇 … make way for the Easter Bilby! 🪃

Bunnies are considered cute and loveable… except in Australia 🇦🇺, where they’re a major scourge🤬.

March 28, 2023

min read

The time when George Bush Senior figuratively told the Aussies where to go…

Have you unwittingly done a hand gesture that meant something completely different in another country? Here’s a true story…

March 10, 2023

min read

Australian English: Calisthenics

Calisthenics is a form of body strength training worldwide. Not in Australia though, where "calisthenics" has a completely different meaning.

January 24, 2023

min read

Seachange, Treechange, E-change

Something Australian (but no way uniquely) today…Do you fancy an escape from the rat race and going for a seachange 🌊, treechange 🌳 or e-change 💻?

May 5, 2026

min read

5 May – Macedonian Language Day

How come Macedonian Language Day is on 5 May, and what strict rule makes spoken Macedonian sound so distinct?

April 29, 2026

min read

Tales from ethnic radio (part 3)

What happens when our listeners can't understand what's supposed to be "their" language? The battle between standard languages and their dialects.

January 6, 2026

min read

Македонски јазик: Божик или Божиќ?

Секоја година пред празникот се појавува истата дилема: Која форма е „помакедонска“? Еве го одговорот базиран на истражувањата на проф. д-р Елка Јачева-Улчар.

December 21, 2025

min read

Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays

Many in the Anglosphere have a strong opinion about what greeting to use now in December. But in the Balkans, the default has been "Happy Holidays" for decades. Here are the reasons why.

December 12, 2025

min read

When cheese is not simply cheese – kashkaval and sirene/sirenje

How come in some Balkan countries there is no simple word for "cheese"... and how two distinct types of cheese came to monopolise these markets.

December 10, 2025

min read

What does "region" mean to you?

"Region" has different meanings in different places. In the countries of ex-Yugoslavia, "region" means something very particular. Do you know what?

November 24, 2025

min read

Translation tip: what's with the scare marks?

It's the little things that can cause the biggest misunderstandings. Which one is very common in Balkan translations? Find out ere

August 22, 2025

min read

Up for a crazy coupon? How Bulgarians say they want to party...

Are you up for a crazy coupon where you're strutting your stuff on the "dancing"? Perhaps you're a "labour" or a "gender"? A sneak peak into some Bulgarian linguistic false friends

August 18, 2025

min read

Let me fix this for you...

Ever seen a notice or ad in a public place written so badly that you've wanted to grab a pen and make corrections? Well, someone did on a Croatian tram. Here's the story...

August 11, 2025

min read

Dua Lipa and her "pasosh"

After many decades of Yugoslav rule, Albanian spoken in Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro has some Serbo-Croatian words, but particularly in certain areas. Which ones? And why is this not unique?

July 6, 2025

min read

I'm like every other woman who works from 7 to 3...

Did Dolly get the words wrong here? No, in ex-Yugoslavia the average work day is a bit different. Find out why here...

July 3, 2025

min read

Are you into BCSM?

There once was one "Serbo-Croatian" but now there are four near-identical languages. Can we still use the term "Serbo-Croatian"? Well, it could cost you dearly...

June 12, 2025

min read

"Fellow Traveller Zhivkov"

Do you know your deficit from a kupon? Or are you up for joining a brigada? How many aspects and language from communist Bulgaria are still relevant today, but sometimes with a twist.

May 30, 2025

min read

Kumpir, the Balkans potato culinary gift to Türkiye

Or is it? On International Day of the Potato, let's look into one of Türkiye's most favourite street foods, and how the Balkans have the Austrians and Germans to thank for the apple, or pear, of the ground.

May 24, 2025

min read

24 May: Day of Slavic Literacy and Culture

Today commemorates the saints who brought literacy to the speakers of Slavic languages, and symbolises the shared roots of all Slavic nations and languages.

May 9, 2025

min read

Leo, Leon or Lav?

A new pope comes with a new name. But which is the correct one in languages other than English?

April 27, 2025

min read

"Filled up 50 years, entered my 51st year and now in my sixth decade"

The way you can refer to age in ex-Yugoslavia is different than in English – they have to make you a year and decade older!

April 10, 2025

min read

Can I do Hungarian?

That's quite a list of languages I translate from, but that doesn't mean I translate from every language in Eastern Europe, no matter how similar they may seem even in name...

March 17, 2025

min read

Kocani, Kočani or Kochani?

Some Macedonian linguistic pointers

February 20, 2025

min read

What's my 'mother language'?

International Mother Language Day and Global Language Advocacy Day are on! So what do I consider to be my 'mother languages' and why one of them is under threat...

February 10, 2025

min read

You know Latin, right?

The time when a person working for a translation company that bills itself to clients as an 'expert in languages' thought I knew Latin. Spoiler: I don't. So why did this happen and why does this have a link to Serbian? All revealed here.

February 8, 2025

min read

Slovenian, the odd one out

I translate into English from all Southern Slavic languages except one. Sorry, I can't do Slovenian. Here's my apology.

December 24, 2024

min read

Anyone up for a 'Krizmoz parti'?

Do you know your Krizmoz from your Bozhik? How some Orthodox Christians in diaspora communities differentiate between the two Christmases.

November 29, 2024

min read

Serbo-Croatian? Yes, I still work from it.

3 decades have passed since it officially ceased to exist but I still get requests to translate from Serbo-Croatian. How come?

November 24, 2024

min read

I'm now a full member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists of the UK!

Yet another accreditation...

November 22, 2024

min read

Hindi/Urdu and Balkan languages... the links between them

There are words that are the same in Hindi and Urdu as in Croatian and Romanian?! How can this be? Find out here...

October 23, 2024

min read

Can the "world's most accurate translator" do Australian English?

Does DeepL live up to its claim of being "the world's most accurate translator" when it comes to Aussie English? Get ready for some zingers!

October 20, 2024

min read

Why are there so many Turkish words in Balkan languages?

Let's see how Turkish has influenced the languages of the Balkans and further afield. Bujrum!

October 17, 2024

min read

False Friend Friday! Time for some Latin-based words

Where the translation gets undone because just because a word looks the same in another language, it doesn't necessarily means the same.

August 28, 2023

min read

Watch out for the killer squirrels! It’s “silly season”… or is that “cucumber season”?

Watch out for the killer squirrels! 🐿️ We’re very much in “silly season” right now in the UK 🤪

August 25, 2023

min read

Луд купон, the “crazy coupon” Bulgarian party

So who’s having a “crazy coupon” this weekend? 🎉 Wait!✋ A crazy coupon?🎟️😲 What’s that?

August 22, 2023

min read

Oldtajmer, evergrin, rekorder, golman… the world of Balkan pseudo-anglicisms

Did you hear about the man who collects “old-timers”? 👴🏽 Or that Frank Sinatra has many “evergreens”? 🌲

June 26, 2023

min read

Homonyms maketh the sentence…

How do you say in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin or Serbian this: “Up there, the mountains burn worse”?👉 Gore gore gore gore.

March 29, 2023

min read

Naš jezik at Munich Airport

I’m about to fly off to Australia transiting through Munich Airport 🇩🇪 … so I’m preparing myself to be ready to speak in “naš jezik” (“our language”).

March 22, 2023

min read

Ramadan or Ramazan?

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts today, but how do you call the month? A case of local vs global of different circumstances

May 15, 2026

min read

Why there's no turbo folk/chalga at Eurovision

Disposable, easy pop with a local flavour and pleasing to the eye. You'd think turbo folk/chalga would be ideal for Eurovision, but you won't be seeing it on the big stage. How come...?

May 13, 2026

min read

Why Croatia's 2026 Eurovision song is problematic

Croatia's dark ethnic ballad entry for Eurovision 2026 has gained many fans across Europe. But the song is problematic in some aspects...

May 6, 2026

min read

"Don't take my picture then!" Arif Heralić and Alija Sirotanović – two socialist Yugoslav icons as one.

Did you know the most recognisable face of socialist Yugoslavia after Tito was of a Roma furnace worker from Bosnia? But many ex-Yugoslavs think it's another Bosnian. Here are their stories...

May 1, 2026

min read

May Day in socialist Yugoslavia

Who's up for a picnic? It's time for bean soup. How Tito's Yugoslavia celebrated the "holiday of labour" and what changed over time and what didn't. Oh, and there's that time I got punched.

April 27, 2026

min read

Video killed the red star in 1980s Bulgaria and Romania

How video casettes illegally smuggled from the west caused Bulgarians and Romanians to question their communist system in the 1980s. And how are James Bond movies treated in Bulgaria...

April 25, 2026

min read

"I'm not a migrant"

The migrant dream: arrive, succeed, then explain why everyone arriving after you is a threat to civilisation – Sami Shah

April 23, 2026

min read

Princes Amongst Men is back!

The book that launched my career as a Balkans sensitivity and authenticity reader is back, updated and bigger than ever!

April 22, 2026

min read

22 April – Lenin's birthday

So Lenin was one of the world's most prominent revolutionaries, but his legacy lasts by way of... first names and spring cleaning? All is explained here.

April 18, 2026

min read

"The buying and selling of votes is a crime" in Bulgaria

The aspects of Bulgarian elections that no-one else talks about. And what does Chalga have to say about it? All aboard the 'Bulgarian train'. Toot, toot!

April 10, 2026

min read

The eggs are dyed for Easter!

Yes, it's that time of year again, and I'm glad to say that the eggs turned out great this year.

April 8, 2026

min read

8 April – International Romani Day

Today is International Romani Day. Note, not 'Gypsy'. Why this is not the most appropriate term, and how ethnic labels can be complicated.

April 7, 2026

min read

Vale Yanka Rupkina!

Famous Bulgarian folk singer and member of the world-famous Trio Bulgarka, Yanka Rupkina, has died. Here is her extraordinary life.

April 4, 2026

min read

Lazarus Saturday – the Balkan debutante ball, and Palm Sunday – the Balkan flower festival

The weekend before Easter in Balkan Orthodox Christian societies sees major celebrations for the coming of spring, steeped in pagan origins.

April 2, 2026

min read

Tales from ethnic radio (part 2)

How I transitioned from listener to being listened. But first, let's bring in some music. 1990s Macedonian Turbofolk anyone? And what was the (surprising) word we couldn't mention?

March 23, 2026

min read

Tales from ethnic radio (part 1)

50 years ago today started the service I loathed as a child... but became my ticket to my future. The crazy yet wonderful world of ethnic, and particularly "Yugoslav", radio in Adelaide, Australia.

January 30, 2026

min read

Kostadinka Palazova, the voice of Bojmija, Macedonia (1939–2026)

Legendary Macedonian folk singer Kostadinka Palazova has passed away. Her life has been dedicated to keeping the songs of her birthplace alive in the face of official bans, ethnic cleansing and life in exile.

January 2, 2026

min read

When coins matter: stotinki and sixpence for Christmas

Big issue of the day – what coin do you use for your lucky-coin Christmas tradition? It matters to many in the Balkans AND Australia

December 21, 2025

min read

Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays

Many in the Anglosphere have a strong opinion about what greeting to use now in December. But in the Balkans, the default has been "Happy Holidays" for decades. Here are the reasons why.

December 19, 2025

min read

19 December is Saint Nicholas Day!

It's a pretty big day in some Orthodox Christian parts of the Balkans – St Nicholas Day. But how come it's happening 13 days after the rest of the world? And what are you not supposed to do today?

November 29, 2025

min read

Dan Republike, Yugoslavia's national day

It's been decades since Yugoslavia's national day was a public holiday but it's still commemorated, albeit online by a rock song from the 1980s

November 23, 2025

min read

Will they ever learn? Aca Lukas arrested (again) in Macedonia

One of the biggest Turbofolk stars in the Balkans is arrested again, but greater focus is on the venue. Have the lessons from the Pulse nightclub fire been learnt?

November 20, 2025

min read

Seeing yourself in colour: Balkan identity through household items and photos

A broom, a forbidden kitchen item for religious holidays, a secret book in Old Church Slavonic, and the colour photo that made my cousin cry. How objects play a vital role in shaping identities.

October 13, 2025

min read

The journey of a Balkan song: its chilling present and obscured past

This is not your usual story. It's about a Balkan song's unlikely journey from obscurity to ultra-right-wing rallying call.

October 7, 2025

min read

There's something about Tuesdays in the Balkans...

And it's not pretty. Actually, best avoid Tuesdays in the Balkans for your own good. Find out why here...

September 15, 2025

min read

Propping up the numbers Balkan-style... because we're "bigger" than you!

[Balkan Nation] + [Protector/Benefactor Superpower] = Inflated Number/Prowess. How some Balkan nations feel the need to prop up their numbers to show how “big” they are. But not everything that the slogans say is what it seems…

August 30, 2025

min read

A boy in a dress or a dres? The curious case of Serbia's Sister Milka

The story of Sister Milka, the Serbian mother who went viral claiming her son had to wear a dress to school in Germany. But was she telling the truth?

July 30, 2025

min read

Tales from Balkan Border Posts: "World Traveller"

What happened the first time I was in 4 countries in 24 hours. Bus, trains, automobiles... and a bizarre interrogation!

July 21, 2025

min read

The death of Lyudmila Zhivkova, Bulgaria's perennial murder mystery

44 years later and the death of Lyudmila Zhivkova, the ambitious, high-profile daughter of Bulgaria’s paramount leader Todor Zhivkov, continues to enthral the Bulgarian public. Who was Lyudmila Zhivkova and why is her death still subject to intense speculation?

July 9, 2025

min read

From muezzin to multi-millions. Hašim Kučuk Hoki, the ultimate in Balkan bad boys

This small-town boy from a prestigious Muslim family shook the Yugoslav Neo-Folk music scene in the 1970s. But he had more than dark sunglasses and long hair to keep the Yugoslav showbiz columns busy.

July 6, 2025

min read

I'm like every other woman who works from 7 to 3...

Did Dolly get the words wrong here? No, in ex-Yugoslavia the average work day is a bit different. Find out why here...

June 15, 2025

min read

Can you tell me the way to Dzordza Vasingtona St.?

Belgrade has new street signs with awkward translations... and people are laughing. Find out why translating street names is not a good idea.

June 4, 2025

min read

Bigger is better! The Balkans and 'Gastarbeiter houses'

Like virtual elephants in the room, the empty houses of emigrants throughout the Balkans are testimony to belonging, (no) return, nostalgia, "success"... and inat!

May 30, 2025

min read

Kumpir, the Balkans potato culinary gift to Türkiye

May 16, 2025

min read

"We're so tolerant!": Eurovision and the benchmarks of tolerance it (supposedly) sets

Many (western European) Eurovision fans like seeing the contest as being in the forefront of social change and liberal politics. But is Eurovision a reliable benchmark for these?

May 13, 2025

min read

Eurovision: 'The voting is all political and just for your neighbour'

That ultimate of Eurovision tropes! But is it really 'political' voting? Not in the Balkans...

May 12, 2025

min read

Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians is back!

Garth Cartwright's award-winning book about the talented Roma music stars of the Balkans is getting a re-release!

May 1, 2025

min read

May Day and St George's Day in the Balkans

Southeast Europe is clocking out for the next days. Here's why...

April 27, 2025

min read

"Filled up 50 years, entered my 51st year and now in my sixth decade"

The way you can refer to age in ex-Yugoslavia is different than in English – they have to make you a year and decade older!

April 18, 2025

min read

My special tradition: dying eggs for Easter

If there is anything that I do for Easter, then it's dye eggs. It has a special significance for me that transcends any religious aspect.

February 16, 2025

min read

Eat that burek... it could be useful later on

How my experience growing up Balkan in Australia has provided valuable knowledge to others.

February 13, 2025

min read

14 February: St Valentine's Day or St Tryphon's Day? Sveti Valentin 💑 ili Sveti Trifun 🍷?

14 February in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia means having to choose between love or wine. How come?

February 8, 2025

min read

Slovenian, the odd one out

I translate into English from all Southern Slavic languages except one. Sorry, I can't do Slovenian. Here's my apology.

January 6, 2025

min read

January 6 in Southeast Europe: Christmas Eve or Epiphany

Today is a big day in southeast Europe, but depending on the country it's either Christmas Eve or Epiphany. Which ones for which? Find out here...

December 31, 2024

min read

My moment of 2024...

There's always one thing each year that stands out in my travels, and this year it was accidently discovering the huge gastarbeiter houses of eastern Serbia

December 22, 2024

min read

Utopia of the Uniform: Affective Afterlives of the Yugoslav People's Army by Tanja Petrović

22 December was Yugoslav People's Day. Here are some notes about the topics raised in this research, my personal connection to the former JNA and how its legacy lives on in the memories and legends of millions.

December 4, 2024

min read

Professor, Doctor, Docent, Magister... let's get into academic titles!

Some societies take them very seriously, some not so much. Find out more here...

October 20, 2024

min read

Why are there so many Turkish words in Balkan languages?

Let's see how Turkish has influenced the languages of the Balkans and further afield. Bujrum!

October 6, 2024

min read

Trileche, the not-so-traditional Balkan dish

How thanks to the Albanians, a Latin American cake conquered the Balkans.

September 6, 2024

min read

"Can you identify the text here?"

Did you know that people regularly contact me to identify text they can't decipher. That's what happens when I know a number of languages.

July 30, 2024

min read

25 years since the death of Bulgarian chalga star Rumyana

How the life and death of a popular chalga singer embodied the nature of post-Communist Bulgaria

July 4, 2024

min read

Who's gonna win: Sunderland or Newcastle? Fancy a Democracy Sausage? Or take a ride on the "Bulgarian Train"

August 22, 2023

min read

Oldtajmer, evergrin, rekorder, golman… the world of Balkan pseudo-anglicisms

Did you hear about the man who collects “old-timers”? 👴🏽 Or that Frank Sinatra has many “evergreens”? 🌲

March 22, 2023

min read

Ramadan or Ramazan?

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts today, but how do you call the month? A case of local vs global of different circumstances

March 8, 2023

min read

International Women’s Day (IWD). A day of campaigning ♀ … or a day to buy flowers 💐

🪃 In Australia, IWD is a day of campaigning and awareness, elements that are much closer to the day’s original purpose of bringing mainstream attention to issues affecting women.

March 6, 2023

min read

Hugging and cheek-kissing in southeast Europe. The does and don’ts

Do you know what to do with hugging and cheek-kissing in southeast Europe? Do you know which countries kiss twice and others three times?

February 1, 2023

min read

Out today! Elixir, In the Valley at the End of Time

The latest book that I played a part in its fruition (no, I’m not in it this time), by my dear friend, the award-winning writer Kapka Kassabova, is now available for purchase.

July 27, 2025

min read

Da or 'ta? When you get things right by accident

Bilinguals and multilinguals do muddle their languages at times. But sometimes we might say something by accident... and it turns out to be the perfect response.

May 17, 2025

min read

Eurovision: not serving kant!

Eurovision likes to portray itself as in the forefront of social inclusion and diversity. However, the title of a Maltese song showed that there's only so far this goes.

May 10, 2025

min read

Do we really need self-service counters in 'Pirate', me mateys?

Ahoy, me hearties! What may appear as a community service actually serves to undermine the supposed primary purpose of such language provision.

February 7, 2025

min read

Child interpreters. Why are we getting them to do an adult's job?

Children who interpret for their family members who do not know the local language are often portrayed as heroes. But what do these children think?

November 22, 2024

min read

Hindi/Urdu and Balkan languages... the links between them

There are words that are the same in Hindi and Urdu as in Croatian and Romanian?! How can this be? Find out here...

September 6, 2024

min read

"Can you identify the text here?"

Did you know that people regularly contact me to identify text they can't decipher. That's what happens when I know a number of languages.

August 23, 2023

min read

Five common myths about raising bilingual children

Surprising as it may be, I was once a child, but one who happened to grow up in a multilingual environment but dominated by English.

May 14, 2026

min read

If you know another language then you cannot be a bigot! Is this true?

Is there any truth that knowing another language eliminates any chance of you being a bigot?

December 17, 2025

min read

The Tale of Silyan: how subtitles can make or break a film

A classic case of how poor subtitles can fail a film. 'Good enough' is never good enough.

November 24, 2025

min read

Translation tip: what's with the scare marks?

It's the little things that can cause the biggest misunderstandings. Which one is very common in Balkan translations? Find out ere

August 18, 2025

min read

Let me fix this for you...

Ever seen a notice or ad in a public place written so badly that you've wanted to grab a pen and make corrections? Well, someone did on a Croatian tram. Here's the story...

July 14, 2025

min read

"Can we have the translation in a positive tone?"

Why such requests are unethical and potentially dangerous for patients

June 15, 2025

min read

Can you tell me the way to Dzordza Vasingtona St.?

Belgrade has new street signs with awkward translations... and people are laughing. Find out why translating street names is not a good idea.

June 5, 2025

min read

How the first Macedonian-English dictionary in Australia was formed

The fascinating story of how the first Macedonian-English dictionary in Australia was formed, and what went in and what went out.

May 9, 2025

min read

Leo, Leon or Lav?

A new pope comes with a new name. But which is the correct one in languages other than English?

April 27, 2025

min read

"Filled up 50 years, entered my 51st year and now in my sixth decade"

The way you can refer to age in ex-Yugoslavia is different than in English – they have to make you a year and decade older!

April 15, 2025

min read

"Vegetative electron microscopy"... a digital fossil

Welcome to the murky world of AI contamination and GIGO

April 10, 2025

min read

Can I do Hungarian?

That's quite a list of languages I translate from, but that doesn't mean I translate from every language in Eastern Europe, no matter how similar they may seem even in name...

February 10, 2025

min read

You know Latin, right?

February 10, 2025

min read

February marks my professional translation career anniversary

February 2002 was when I did my first paid translation job... and it ended up on TV! Find out how this came about, as well as its connection to Croatian skier Janica Kostelić and Bulgarian footballer Yordan Letchkov

February 7, 2025

min read

Child interpreters. Why are we getting them to do an adult's job?

Children who interpret for their family members who do not know the local language are often portrayed as heroes. But what do these children think?

January 30, 2025

min read

How to pass off as a native English speaker when writing?

What's one of the biggest giveaways that a text in English was not written by a native speaker? Find out here with a simple and yet important tip...

January 8, 2025

min read

Subtitling is easy, right?

Some notes on how subtitling is not simply plonking words on a screen

December 17, 2024

min read

My new personalised stamp!

To add to that professional touch, I can have your documents stamped with my personalised round stamp.

December 4, 2024

min read

Professor, Doctor, Docent, Magister... let's get into academic titles!

Some societies take them very seriously, some not so much. Find out more here...

November 29, 2024

min read

Serbo-Croatian? Yes, I still work from it.

3 decades have passed since it officially ceased to exist but I still get requests to translate from Serbo-Croatian. How come?

November 24, 2024

min read

I'm now a full member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists of the UK!

Yet another accreditation...

November 22, 2024

min read

Hindi/Urdu and Balkan languages... the links between them

There are words that are the same in Hindi and Urdu as in Croatian and Romanian?! How can this be? Find out here...

October 23, 2024

min read

Can the "world's most accurate translator" do Australian English?

Does DeepL live up to its claim of being "the world's most accurate translator" when it comes to Aussie English? Get ready for some zingers!

October 15, 2024

min read

The time US military officials used a computer to predict the outcome of the Vietnam War...

A cautionary tale about how human behaviour overrides data

September 29, 2024

min read

International Translation Day and the Dragomans

How the Ottoman Empire granted its translators and interpreters, the Dragomans, with respect and status.

August 21, 2024

min read

Meyk lov - not vor

Why you shouldn't trust automated translation on LinkedIn or anywhere else. And are the Macedonians being targeted?

June 26, 2023

min read

Any place, any time…

👍The best thing about being a freelance translator is being able to work at any place at any time. 👎The worst thing about being a freelancer translator is being able to work at any place at any time.

April 26, 2023

min read

English language translation tips: use of long forms of country names

Republic of Serbia 🇷🇸, Republic of Croatia 🇭🇷, Kingdom of Norway 🇳🇴, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 🇬🇧, Oriental Republic of Uruguay 🇺🇾, Plurinational State of Bolivia 🇧🇴 …

May 14, 2026

min read

If you know another language then you cannot be a bigot! Is this true?

Is there any truth that knowing another language eliminates any chance of you being a bigot?

February 21, 2026

min read

International Mother Language Day: "you're confusing him"

To show why mother languages matter, here's my story how educators in Australia tried stopping my parents speaking to me in my mother language.

February 9, 2026

min read

Careful, someone might hear you!

Think you can say vile things about the people around you because hardly anyone speaks your language? Think again! Because when you least suspect it, there'll be someone who does understand...

December 26, 2025

min read

SBS is 50!

Australia's unique multicultural broadcaster, SBS, turned 50 in 2025. Here's an insight into what SBS was like in the 1980s and how it enriched Australia, all of its people... and me.

August 22, 2025

min read

Up for a crazy coupon? How Bulgarians say they want to party...

Are you up for a crazy coupon where you're strutting your stuff on the "dancing"? Perhaps you're a "labour" or a "gender"? A sneak peak into some Bulgarian linguistic false friends

August 20, 2025

min read

A company by any other name than Nik?

Oil, banking, jewelry, optics, radio broadcasting, hard spirits... Nik does it all! But do I really?

August 11, 2025

min read

Dua Lipa and her "pasosh"

After many decades of Yugoslav rule, Albanian spoken in Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro has some Serbo-Croatian words, but particularly in certain areas. Which ones? And why is this not unique?

July 27, 2025

min read

Da or 'ta? When you get things right by accident

Bilinguals and multilinguals do muddle their languages at times. But sometimes we might say something by accident... and it turns out to be the perfect response.

July 3, 2025

min read

Are you into BCSM?

There once was one "Serbo-Croatian" but now there are four near-identical languages. Can we still use the term "Serbo-Croatian"? Well, it could cost you dearly...

May 10, 2025

min read

Do we really need self-service counters in 'Pirate', me mateys?

Ahoy, me hearties! What may appear as a community service actually serves to undermine the supposed primary purpose of such language provision.

February 20, 2025

min read

What's my 'mother language'?

International Mother Language Day and Global Language Advocacy Day are on! So what do I consider to be my 'mother languages' and why one of them is under threat...

January 8, 2025

min read

Subtitling is easy, right?

Some notes on how subtitling is not simply plonking words on a screen

November 19, 2024

min read

Indian and Australian English... the links between them

India and Australia have common bonds that go beyond a passion for cricket. Here are a few words that Indian and Australian English uniquely share...

October 15, 2024

min read

The time US military officials used a computer to predict the outcome of the Vietnam War...

A cautionary tale about how human behaviour overrides data

October 14, 2024

min read

"Merci" is how you say "thank you" in which language?

It may come as a surprise but it's not just in French...

September 6, 2024

min read

"Can you identify the text here?"

Did you know that people regularly contact me to identify text they can't decipher. That's what happens when I know a number of languages.

October 23, 2023

min read

You know that time when Madonna was interviewed by a Hungarian tabloid? Or when translation goes hilariously bad…

We all know how some translations can be so bad that they’re unintentionally hilarious, like the viral examples from Engrish.com...

September 14, 2023

min read

Working in IT? What do you call yourself? An IT-ian, a Hitechist…?

Working in IT? 👩🏻‍💻 Would you call yourself an IT-ian, Hitechist or Startupist?

August 28, 2023

min read

Watch out for the killer squirrels! It’s “silly season”… or is that “cucumber season”?

Watch out for the killer squirrels! 🐿️ We’re very much in “silly season” right now in the UK 🤪

August 26, 2023

min read

Tina Turner… Australian cultural icon!

Did you know that Tina Turner has been one of the biggest contributors to Australian culture? 🦘 Honestly, her impact has been huge! Here’s how…

August 24, 2023

min read

You do Montenegrin and Bosnian, right?

Two more language directions have been added to my Institute of Translation and Interpreting profile

August 23, 2023

min read

Generic or specific? The issue stopping the free-trade agreement between the EU and Australia

Would you believe that the names of all these famous products are the cause for the deadlock in the free-trade agreement negotiations between the EU 🇪🇺 and Australia 🇦🇺. How come?

August 21, 2023

min read

Smoker’s remorse… or how false friends can be deeply expressive

🟰 Words that look the same or similar in two languages but have two, at times radically, different meanings are called “false friends”.

May 30, 2023

min read

The personal touch

Translation can often be a very sedentary existence, plugging away in front of a laptop, with little or no face-to-face contact with clients👨🏻‍💻

February 4, 2026

min read

World Cancer Day: cancer scare!

Even after being cured of cancer and remission is over, there's still the threat of it coming back for around go. What to do with a new cancer scare?

February 3, 2025

min read

Cancer and gallows humour: Thank you for the flowers 💐; I hope they die before I do!

What's one constant when it comes to the cancer experience? It's the gallows humour. Yes, it gets very, very dark. Why is this so?

September 15, 2024

min read

15 years cancer-free!!!

And I know because of an annual procedure a work colleague advised me to do...

June 14, 2024

min read

It's Men's Health Week... and I'm 15 years cancer-free!!!

The story of how I found out by chance that I no longer had cancer