Australia
Australia
Pronunciation
/ɒˈstreɪliə/
ɒs-: /ɒs/ (as in "loss")
trei-: /treɪ/ (as in "tray")
li-: /li/ (as in "lee")
ə: /ə/ (as in "about")
Word Form Variations
"Australia" is primarily used as a proper noun, referring to a specific country and continent. As such, it does not typically have singular, plural, or other grammatical variations in the same way common nouns or verbs do.
Singular: Australia
Plural: Australians (referring to people from Australia) - While "Australia" itself isn't pluralized, the demonym Australians is the plural form for its inhabitants.
Adjective: Australian (e.g., "Australian culture")
Adverb: Australianly (less common, but could be used to describe something done in an Australian manner)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A continent located in the southern hemisphere, also comprising the main island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It is the world's smallest continent and is situated between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Synonyms: The Land Down Under, Oz (informal)
Antonyms: None (as it's a unique proper noun)
Definition 2: A sovereign country occupying the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and many smaller islands. Its capital is Canberra, and it is known for its unique wildlife, vast outback, and diverse cultural landscape.
Synonyms: Commonwealth of Australia
Antonyms: None (as it's a unique proper noun)
Adjective
Definition 1: Of or relating to Australia, its people, culture, or characteristics.
Example: "The Australian accent is quite distinctive."
Synonyms: Antipodean (referring to the region), Oceanic
Antonyms: Non-Australian, foreign (in a general sense)
Examples of Use
Books: "Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country vividly describes his travels across Australia, detailing its unique landscapes and quirky inhabitants."
Newspapers: "The Sydney Morning Herald reported on new conservation efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia." (The Sydney Morning Herald, July 2024)
Online Publications: "Lonely Planet's website features comprehensive travel guides for exploring various regions of Australia, from the Outback to its coastal cities." (Lonely Planet, June 2025)
Entertainment (Film): "The film Lion tells the true story of Saroo Brierley, who was adopted by an Australian couple and later searched for his birth family in India, with scenes depicting his life in Australia."
Entertainment (Television): "The reality competition show Australian Survivor pits contestants against each other in challenging conditions across different parts of Australia."
Entertainment (Music): "The band Men at Work gained international fame with their song 'Down Under,' which contains lyrics referencing iconic aspects of Australia."
General Public Discourse: "When discussing international travel plans, many people express a desire to visit Australia for its unique wildlife and beaches."
General Public Discourse: "During the summer, news reports often highlight the risk of bushfires in Australia due to its dry climate."
10 Famous Quotes Using Australia
"Don't worry about the world ending today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles M. Schulz)
"I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains, of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains... The wide brown land for me!" (Dorothea Mackellar, "My Country")
"Every country is like a particular type of person. America is like a belligerent, adolescent boy; Canada is like an intelligent, 35-year-old woman. Australia is like Jack Nicholson." (Douglas Adams)
"We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love... and then we return home." (Australian Aboriginal Proverb)
"Once people come to Australia, they join the team." (Tony Abbott)
"You feel free in Australia. There is great relief in the atmosphere – a relief from tension, a relief from pressure, an absence of control of will or form." (D. H. Lawrence)
"I think Australia has to be a country which has the 'Welcome' sign out." (Paul Keating)
"My previous visits to Australia created fantastic memories, so I'm definitely looking forward to another visit." (Joe Nichols)
"To me, Australia is the best country in the world to live in." (Lleyton Hewitt)
"The apology opened the opportunity for a new relationship based on mutual respect and mutual responsibility between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia." (Kevin Rudd)
Etymology
The word "Australia" comes from the Latin phrase "Terra Australis Incognita," which means "Unknown Southern Land."
For many centuries, before Europeans explored the southern hemisphere, people believed there had to be a large landmass in the south to "balance" out the land in the north. This idea of a hypothetical southern continent led to the use of "Terra Australis" or "Terra Australis Incognita" on old maps.
The first known use of "Australia" (or a very similar Latin form) in print was in 1545 in an astrological textbook, where it appeared on a map depicting this imagined southern land.
However, it wasn't officially used for the continent we know today until much later. Dutch explorers in the 17th century charted parts of the continent and called it "New Holland." It was the English explorer Matthew Flinders who strongly pushed for the name "Australia" after he became the first to sail all the way around the continent in 1803. He thought it was a better and more pleasant-sounding name than "Terra Australis."
Eventually, in 1817, the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie, officially recommended the name "Australia" to replace "New Holland," and by 1824, the British Admiralty began using it on official charts. So, while the idea and the Latin word existed for centuries, it was Flinders and Macquarie who truly popularized and cemented "Australia" as the name for the continent and country we know today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Australia
Down Under: This is the most common informal term referring to Australia and New Zealand, alluding to their position in the Southern Hemisphere.
Example: "He's going to visit family Down Under next year."
The Land Down Under: A more formal version of "Down Under," specifically meaning Australia.
Example: "Many people dream of travelling to the Land Down Under."
True Blue Australian: Used to describe someone who embodies typical Australian characteristics, values, or patriotism.
Example: "He's a true blue Australian, loves his footy and a good barbecue."
As dry as the Australian Outback: An idiom used to describe something extremely dry, referencing the arid interior of Australia.
Example: "After that long walk, my throat was as dry as the Australian Outback."
No worries, mate: While not directly using "Australia," this quintessential Australian phrase is strongly associated with the country and its laid-back attitude. (Using a synonymous effect)
Example: "Thanks for your help! No worries, mate."
Fair dinkum: An Australian colloquialism meaning "true," "genuine," or "authentic." Often used in the context of something truly Australian. (Using a synonymous effect)
Example: "Is that story fair dinkum? Did it really happen in Australia?"
To put another shrimp on the barbie: This phrase, popularized by a tourism campaign, is a stereotypical but recognized reference to Australian barbecue culture.
Example: "When you visit Australia, make sure you put another shrimp on the barbie!"
Going to see the kangaroos: A playful way of saying one is going to Australia, referencing its iconic marsupial.
Example: "We're finally saving up for our trip – soon we'll be going to see the kangaroos!"
Australian rules: Refers specifically to Australian Rules Football, a unique sport originating in Australia.
Example: "He grew up playing Australian rules every weekend."
From way out in the Australian bush: Implies coming from a very remote, rural part of Australia.
Example: "He had a charmingly rustic manner, like he was from way out in the Australian bush."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Australia from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
