strine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Humorous
Quick answer
What does “strine” mean?
The distinctive pronunciation, accent, and idiom of Australian English, especially as spoken with a broad accent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The distinctive pronunciation, accent, and idiom of Australian English, especially as spoken with a broad accent; a colloquial or humorous term for the Australian dialect.
A humorous term for Australian English, often highlighting the way Australian pronunciation elides or runs words together in casual, rapid speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is rarely used in the US. In the UK, it is more likely to be recognised in cultural or travel writing about Australia, but still remains a niche term. Its primary context is Australian English itself, often used humorously by Australians or in discussions about Australian culture.
Connotations
In British usage, if used, it tends to be descriptive or slightly humorous when referring to Australian speech. In American usage, it is largely unknown. In Australian usage, it is often affectionate or self-deprecating.
Frequency
Very infrequent in both the UK and US corpora. Most of its usage is found in Australian sources or in international media discussing Australian culture.
Grammar
How to Use “strine” in a Sentence
speak in [strine]a word of [strine]a phrase of [strine]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The comedian tried to strine it up for the Aussie audience.
adjective
British English
- He gave a perfect, strine pronunciation of 'Good day, mate'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing or branding targeting an Australian audience in a playful way.
Academic
Rare. May appear in sociolinguistics papers on Australian English as a colloquial label, but not a technical term.
Everyday
Used humorously among Australians or by visitors to Australia when commenting on the distinctive accent and slang.
Technical
Not used in technical linguistics; replaced by terms like 'Broad Australian English'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strine”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strine”
- Misspelling as 'strain' or 'stryne'.
- Using it in a formal context.
- Assuming it is a standard linguistic term rather than a colloquialism.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a colloquial and humorous term, not used in formal linguistic analysis.
Rarely. It primarily refers to the spoken accent and pronunciation, though it can be used for the characteristic slang and idiom.
Generally not. It is often used affectionately by Australians themselves, though as with any term for a dialect, context and intent matter.
It is a phonetic rendering of the Australian pronunciation of the word 'Australian'.
The distinctive pronunciation, accent, and idiom of Australian English, especially as spoken with a broad accent.
Strine is usually informal, humorous in register.
Strine: in British English it is pronounced /straɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /straɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fair dinkum strine”
- “as Australian as strine”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an Australian saying 'Australia' very fast and lazily: 'Strine' sounds like the first syllable of 'Australian' run together.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A LIVING ENTITY (a distinct, quirky character); NATIONAL IDENTITY IS SPEECH.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'strine' primarily associated with?