Welcome to our third installment of Learn the Lingo and this week we’re looking at where people are from.

One thing I feel it’s important to mention here, sometimes Australians are thought of in a bad way and part of that comes from a lack of understanding. Australians are proud of their country, their heritage (no matter where they are from in the world) and also are very accepting of people from other countries. Australians embrace that their country is multi-cultural and we enjoy our mates from far and wide.

In saying that, some of our slang can come across bad and I want to explain that it we might take the mickey out of others, but we’re well known for laughing at ourselves first. We can dish a joke out and we can take one well, that’s what helps make us who we are and why so many people all over the world love us Aussies. None of the terms below are derogatory in any way, they’re often delivered with a smirk and believe me, we get it right back from them all (and love it!)

• Aussie [pronounced Ozzie] – Australian
• Banana bender – a person from Queensland
• Cane toad – a person from Queensland
• Cockroach – a person from New South Wales
• Crow eater – a person from South Australia
• Mexican – a person from Victoria (south of the border)
• Sandgroper – a person from Western Australia
• Taswegian – a person from Tasmania
• Seppo – an American
• Sheepshagger – A New Zealander
• Pom, pommy, pommie – an Englishman (thought to originate from “POHM – Prisoner of Her Majesty” from back in the convict days – when white settlement started here)

So, basically I come from Pommy stock and am married to a Pom, but I was born a Mexican and now I’m a Banana Bender and I’m proud of all of that!

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