Australians are renowned for a laconic, self-deprecating sense of humour that is, to a large extent, the sort of mockery that is not meant to offend.
Australia – New Zealand Relations
We love to tease the New Zealanders about their accent and habits, like their habit of calling all and sundry, ‘bro.’ The Kiwis, in turn, mock us about our own ‘Straylan‘ accent, about who really invented pavlova, or whether Russell Crowe is an Aussie or Kiwi.
[Although after the phone-throwing incident, there was a debate as to whether anyone would claim Russell, at all].
Mocking each other can be a sign of feeling secure enough with the friendship that each may ‘have a go,’ or tease someone, in a gentle way, hopefully without it being taken personally, or causing offence. And so it is between New Zealanders and Australians.
Teasing aside, our countries do have a fairly similar culture, at least historically in the Anglo-Saxon sense. Many of us have relatives in both countries.
We understand each other and visit all the time, prior to Corona, of course. It is quicker to travel to New Zealand than to travel to the other side of Australia, for goodness sake. When every second or third New Zealand Teenager moved to Australia in search of work, in the 1980s, the popular joke here, was:
“So you moved here from New Zealand? Did you leave the light on?”
New Zealanders are very welcome in Australia and are treated as one of us. Well, except when it comes to welfare payments, perhaps. ‘Nuff’ said.
Aussie Vernacular Idioms
My Kiwi cousins enjoy teasing me about the way Aussies say, “Yeh, nah,” or ‘yes,’ then ‘no’ in the one breath or sentence. And we do say it. No doubt.
All the time!
So why was this T-shirt found in a souvenir shop, in New Zealand, with a kiwi as part of the logo? “Hey, bro?“
Are New Zealanders saying it, as well?
In defence of my fellow Aussies, this confusing phrase is used when we want to make two points, relative to one another, presumably to save time. As you may know, Aussies like to shorten everything to save time, especially when it comes to conversation and slang. As this video confirms:
In saying Yeh. Nah, we are agreeing with our conversational partner before further disagreeing on a smaller, less significant related point. Hence:
“Yeh, meaning you are right, (it looks like it might rain, but) “nah” meaning in reality, it probably won’t rain this afternoon – hence “Yeh, Nah, I don’t think it’s going to rain!” Clear as mud?
It seems this confusing idiom that makes no literal sense has traversed the Tasman Sea, into New Zealand to the point that it’s now New Zealand speak, if only because it has the word, ‘bro’, after it!!
Aussies will NOT disagree with this, will they? Yeh…. nah!
And if you are ready for some more Aussie humour, Carl might give you a laugh.
Something for linguists to ponder about.
Haha that’s hilarious! My boyfriend (kiwi) used to tease me (aussie) relentlessly about ‘yea nah’. I can’t wait to show him that picture!!
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yep… ironic isn’t it? My kiwi rellies responded that they had been hanging around me too long!!! It’s contagious!
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Yea well…. nah, it was always going to heppen, wasn’t it!
Love the Kiwis, and I think secretly they love us too!
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Very true. We are all part of the Oceanic part of the world! Thanks for your fun comment!
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Ha, ha – recognize that…! Love it!
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Yeah.. nah…. š
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š
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Carl Barron first thing in the morning….I have tears
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He is funny! Hey?
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Yeah bro š
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Yeh, nah!
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Fabo
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In reference to my previous post
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Haha what a light-hearted, fun post in these times! I love yeh-nah haha. I am always interested in these funny rivalries.. I think the closest ones to Oz-Nz are the Scandinavians or maybe Czech Republic-Slovakia. Poland doesn’t have that kind of relationship with any nationality, as far as I know. You have cousins in NZ, Amanda? But you also have Danish ancestry right?
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It is lovely that you take an interest in other cultures and their small rivalries, Pooja. I didn’t know about the Czech Republic and Slovakia and how they have a brotherly tease with each other, too. Yes I have Danish cousins in New Zealand. We have a common Danish ancestor whose children were many. One child immigrated to New Zealand and had family whilst another moved to Australia and others stated in Denmark. That’s how we are all related, yet living in different countries!
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Haha. I’m a kiwi , have been living in Australia since 1989. I still get teased about my kiwi accent. Great post…loved it šš
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As an adult, I think it has to be a conscious decision to change your accent. I love the kiwi accent! Don’t change it. Tease us back! Ha!
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I agree šš
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Love this. Almost (but not quite) how Americans and Canadians tease one another. š. ā Marty
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Hi Marty, It is good to hear that other countries have this friendly banter! It is a lot of fun and a great subject for comedians! Which side of the fence are you on?
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Oh, I totally like it, providing everyoneās a good sport about it. Thankfully no tradition of international soccer tensions over here!
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No – soccer is where friendliness can disappear. Such a shame.
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