Diminutives in Australian English

In Australian English, utility vehicles are almost always referred to in the diminutive as a ute.
Flannelette shirts

Diminutive forms of words are commonly used in everyday Australian English. While many dialects of English make use of diminutives and hypocorisms, Australian English uses them more extensively than any other.[1][2] Diminutives may be seen as slang, but many are used widely across the whole of society.[1] Some forms have also spread outside Australia to other English-speaking countries.[3] There are over 5,000 identified diminutives in use in Australian English.[4][5][2]

  1. ^ a b Luu, Chi. "Small Poppy Syndrome: Why are Australians so Obsessed With Nicknaming Things?". JStor. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Sussex, Roland. 2004. Abstand, Ausbau, Creativity and Ludicity in Australian English. Australian Journal of Linguistics 24(1). 3-19.
  3. ^ Nunn, Gary (May 27, 2015). "Australian slang is not dying, it's making its way up in the world". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. ^ "Why we shorten barbie, footy and arvo". australiangeographic.com.au. 2 August 2010.
  5. ^ "A word in your ear: Diminutives". abc.net.au.