Around Christmas the language used can reflect the country and culture it is used in. Have a look at these sentences and see if you can identify where they come from.

  1. “Eh, it’s a Chinook! Get rid of your tuque and mitts, grab some loonies and let’s head on over for a couple of Double Doubles and a box of Timbits”
  2. “Let’s hang out with the Newfies, grab some toonies buy a Mickey and give’r at the rally!”
  3. “Come on rattle your dags, the ankle biters are hungry! Get the snarlers on the barbie and I’ll get the rest of the kai out of the chilly bin.”
  4. “I’ve got the eskie and some stubbies so grab your flip flops and get your budgie smugglers on. We’re going down to the beach where the rellies always have their Chrissie party.”
  5. “Put on your takkies and go play in the sun outside, while the adults enjoyed a bia baridi and some samosas, before we all tackled a copious curry and Christmas pudding. Krismasi njema!”

Answers:

CANADA

“Eh, it’s a Chinook! Get rid of your tuque and mitts, grab some loonies and let’s head on over for a couple of Double Doubles and a box of Timbits”

or

“Let’s hang out with the Newfies, grab some toonies, buy a Mickey and give’r at the rally!”

 

Chinook: A strong, warm wind blowing down a mountain range in the middle of winter, and it is also an Inuit word for melting snow due to warm wind.

tuque: a knitted hat to keep you warm – like a beanie

mitts: mittens

Loonies: Canadian $1 coin with an image of a Loon (bird) on it.

Double Double: a coffee with double milk and double sugar ordered from Tim Horton Doughnuts.

Timbits: doughnuts from Tim Hortons

Newfie: anyone from Newfoundland

toonie: Canadian $2 coin

Mickey: a 375ml bottle of liquor

A give’r: a person doing a noble or difficult action – giving something a go

NZ:

“Come on rattle your dags, the ankle biters are hungry! Get the snarlers on the barbie and I’ll get the rest of the kai out of the chilly bin.” 

rattle your dags: get a move on, hurry up

ankle biters: small children

snarlers: sausages

barbie: barbeque

kai: Maori word for food

chilly bin: portable, insulated box to keep picnic food or beverages cool

AUSTRALIA:

“I’ve got the eskie and some stubbies so grab your flip flops and get your budgie smugglers on. We’re going down to the beach where the rellies always have their Chrissie party.”

eskie: portable, insulated box to keep picnic food or beverages cool

stubbies: small bottles of beer 330-350ml

flip flops: Based on Japanese sandals, they are lightweight summer sandals with two straps going from between the big toe to either side of the foot. Also known as jandals, thongs or pluggers.

budgie smugglers: Speedo bathing costume

rellies: relatives / family

Chrissie: Christmas. Many words are shortened and given an –ie at the end e.g. breakfast = brekkie

KENYA:

“Put on your takkies and go play in the sun outside, while the adults enjoyed a bia baridi and some samosas, before we all tackled a copious curry and Christmas pudding. Krismasi njema!”

takkies: plimsolls = tennis shoes, forerunners of trainers / sneakers

baridi: cold, bia needs to be said aloud

Krismasi Njema: happy Christmas

Adjectives follow the nouns in Swahili!

In Australia or New Zealand Christmas is often spent at the beach, a river or simply outdoors.  As a child at Christmas in Kenya in the 70s you might have heard that sentence. There won’t be too many Canadians out swimming at this time of year.

Photo by erin mckenna on Unsplash