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VLEXICONS · AUSTRALIAN GREEK CONTACT SPEECHΛΕΞΙΚΑ · ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΥΣΤΡΑΛΙΑΣUnconfirmed list

Australian Greek contact speech: words

A first list of Australian Greek contact speech words, each with its source.

Greek in the diaspora: contact varieties. These are words Greek speaking migrants took from English and made Greek. This is not a dialect in the traditional sense but a variety born of language contact. The mixed speech of migrant communities is explored at Ethnolects.

A first list, in progress. Every word was found in at least one published source, named beside it. Words marked Attested were found in two independent sources, or in one public domain work. Words marked Unconfirmed have not yet been found in a second independent source. The checks so far were made with AI assistance, and no word has yet been reviewed by the editorial board. The meanings are written by us.

43 words · 9 attested · 34 unconfirmed

Work, trades and money 18

  1. γιούνιοjúnjotrade unionATTESTED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, pp. 82 to 83 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed)

  2. κοντράτοkontrátocontractATTESTED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The Greeklish Project. Neos Kosmos, 3 August 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed)

  3. μπόσηςbósisbossATTESTED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, pp. 82 to 83 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed)

  4. ουέντζαwéndzawage, wagesATTESTED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed)

  5. εξπιριότηταekspiriótitaexperience (work experience)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, pp. 82 to 83 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) (needs second source; Latin expiriotita in source, Greek spelling reconstructed)

  6. κομισιονέρισαkomisionérisacommissioner (woman)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The Greeklish Project. Neos Kosmos, 3 August 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source)

  7. λήστlístlease (older speakers may confuse it with list)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second independent source; also K15a, same author)

  8. μαρκέταmarkétashop, marketUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words · Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

  9. μπάνκαbánkabankUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (needs second source)

  10. μποτζήςbotzísbodger, someone who does shoddy workUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 189 to 190, botzis from English to bodge (needs second source; Latin botzis (plural botzides) in source; meaning is the English model to bodge named by Tamis; stress reconstructed)

  11. ντιζάινdizáindesignUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2020). Tongues of Greek Australia: an anglicised Hellenic language. Neos Kosmos, 29 June 2020 (repost by Orthodoxia News Agency). Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source)

  12. πενσιούχοςpensjúxospensionerUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source)

  13. πετρελιονάδικοpetrelionádikopetrol stationUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (needs second source)

  14. ρουφάνιοςrufánjosroof repairer, rooferUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words · Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The Greeklish Project. Neos Kosmos, 3 August 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

  15. σουπερμαρκέταsupermarkétasupermarketUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (needs second source)

  16. ταξέσιοtaksésjotaxUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source; Tamis lists teksesjia under places of work (possibly tax office), not matched)

  17. τικέτοtikétoticketUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (needs second source; Tamis 2011 p. 186 lists tiketa (variant, unglossed))

  18. χοτέλιxotélihotelUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed) (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

House, household objects and clothing 15

  1. καρπέτοkarpétocarpet, wall to wall carpetATTESTED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2020). Tongues of Greek Australia: an anglicised Hellenic language. Neos Kosmos, 29 June 2020 (repost by Orthodoxia News Agency). Copyrighted, citable, column text · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed)

  2. μπούτιbúticar boot (SMG μπούτι means thigh)ATTESTED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text · Kyriakos Gold (researcher), Australian Greek words collected through public consultations and community events (The Australian Slang Project), as reported in Protothema English, 25 June 2015, article text, booti

  3. στόφαstófastove, cookerATTESTED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, p. 87 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed)

  4. φρίζαfrízafridgeATTESTED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, pp. 82 to 83 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) · Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text

  5. χήταxítaheaterATTESTED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed)

  6. αικουντίσιοeikundísjoair conditionerUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2020). Tongues of Greek Australia: an anglicised Hellenic language. Neos Kosmos, 29 June 2020 (repost by Orthodoxia News Agency). Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source; spelling as source)

  7. γιάριjáriyard, backyardUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (needs second source)

  8. κάροkárocarUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, pp. 82 to 83 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) · Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

  9. λόντριlóndrilaundry (room)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2020). Tongues of Greek Australia: an anglicised Hellenic language. Neos Kosmos, 29 June 2020 (repost by Orthodoxia News Agency). Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source; source capitalises it)

  10. μόπαmópamopUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, p. 87 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) (needs second source; Latin mopa in source, Greek spelling reconstructed)

  11. μπασκέταbaskétabasketUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Tanis, Dionysios (2009). Greek in contact with English from a teaching perspective. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 17(1). Copyrighted, citable, pp. 82 to 83 (Latin transcription with SMG gloss) · Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

  12. μπούκοbúkobookUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (needs second source; neuter, cited with article το)

  13. πετρέλιοpetréliopetrolUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words (needs second source)

  14. ρούφιrúfiroofUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed) (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

  15. φλόριflórifloorUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed) (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

Emotions, character and endearments 3

  1. εξάιτμεντeksáitmentexcitementUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The Greeklish Project. Neos Kosmos, 3 August 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source)

  2. εξπήριοςekspírjosexperiencedUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second independent source; same author spells it εξπείριος in K15a)

  3. πειράξyingpiráksingbullying (Greek πειράζω with English ing)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2020). Tongues of Greek Australia: an anglicised Hellenic language. Neos Kosmos, 29 June 2020 (repost by Orthodoxia News Agency). Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source; hybrid written partly in Latin letters by source)

Food, cooking and drink 3

  1. μπαμπακίλαbabakílasmell of a barbecueUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The Greeklish Project. Neos Kosmos, 3 August 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source)

  2. τσίπιαtsípjachips (plural)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed) (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

  3. τσόπιαtsópjameat chops (plural)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Wikipedia contributors. Greek in Australia (section on the Greek Australian dialect, drawing on Tamis 2009, Kalimniou 2020 and Harris). Wikipedia, retrieved 25 October 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0, table of Greek Australian words · Tamis, Anastasios M. (2011). Greek in contact with English in Australia. Études helléniques / Hellenic Studies 19(1): 177 to 202. Copyrighted, citable, p. 186, list of integrated transfers (Latin transcription, unglossed) (Recheck 25 Oct 2026: one of the two sources is a general website (Wikipedia or a commercial site) that may repeat the other source, so it is not counted as independent. Needs a second scholarly source.)

Greetings and everyday expressions 2

  1. βίζιταvízitavisit (in SMG the word has a different, sexual sense)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The Greeklish Project. Neos Kosmos, 3 August 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source)

  2. οράιτoráitall rightUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second independent source; same author spells it ορράιτ in K15a)

Common verbs 2

  1. γουγκλάρωguglaroto googleUNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The year of speaking Greek dangerously. Neos Kosmos, 12 January 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source; also used in Greece, so not exclusively Greek Australian; stress not shown)

  2. μπαμπακίζωbabakízoto put on a barbecue (for someone)UNCONFIRMED

    Source: Kalimniou, Dean (2015). The Greeklish Project. Neos Kosmos, 3 August 2015. Copyrighted, citable, column text (needs second source)