The term 'Koorie' is used to refer to Aboriginal people originating from 'mobs' in Victoria and parts of New South Wales. Koorie English is a recognised dialect of English like Standard Australian English and is spoken by members of Koorie communities across Victoria.
Koori (also spelt koorie, goori or goorie) is a demonym for Aboriginal Australians from a region that approximately corresponds to southern New South Wales and Victoria. The word derives from the Indigenous language Awabakal.
Gubbah, also spelt gubba, is a term used by some Aboriginal people to refer to white people or non-Aboriginal people. The Macquarie Dictionary has it as "n. Colloq. (derog.) an Aboriginal term for a white man".
Koori is a term denoting an Aboriginal person of southern New South Wales or Victoria. 'Koori' is not a synonym for 'Aboriginal'. There are many other Aboriginal groups across Australia (such as Murri, Noongar, Yolngu) with which Indigenous Australians may identify themselves.
Pap(a) is also found as 'mother', mainly in Victoria. Other kinship roots (for grandparents) have been shown to have a split distribution with one root dominating in the east and one in the west for what is apparently a single proto-meaning.
Aboriginal people refer to an Elder as 'Aunty' or 'Uncle'. However, it is recommended that non-Aboriginal people check the appropriateness of their use of these terms as referring to an Elder or leader as Aunty or Uncle may not be appropriate for an outsider unless a strong relationship has been established.
'Aborigine' is a noun for an Aboriginal person (male or female).
Overall there are many common words in Noongar, for example: kaya= hello, moort = family, boodja = country and yongka = kangaroo.
It is polite to say goodbye when leaving. Our word for goodbye is 'bobo' (pronounced bor bor).
Nullah. Nullah is a name made famous by Baz Luhrman's film Australia, where a young Brandon Walters broke a million hearts around the world as the young Aboriginal boy named Nullah. The word Nullah is a word for war club/hunting stick derived from the Dharug language.
Assimilationist terms such as 'full-blood,' 'half-caste' and 'quarter-caste' are extremely offensive and should never be used when referring to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
kesalul - I love you.
A race-based term that classified Indigenous people of mixed Indigenous and European descent. 'Half-caste' people were defined as those Indigenous people who had one Indigenous parent. Now accepted as an offensive term and no longer used to refer to Aborigines in official records.
Often, "Aboriginal peoples" is also used. The Canadian Constitution recognizes 3 groups of Aboriginal peoples: Indians (more commonly referred to as First Nations), Inuit and Métis. These are 3 distinct peoples with unique histories, languages, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.
In Victoria, Aboriginal people refer to themselves as Koori. It is a term that is shared with other Aboriginal groups from New South Wales (NSW).
Aboriginal swear words
Goona: Poo! (He did the biggest goona you've ever seen).
According to the beliefs of Indigenous people from central Australia and Arnhem Land, Mimi are mischievous and capricious spirits who are believed to possess mystical powers and to live forever. Mimi taught the first Indigenous people in western Arnhem Land how to hunt and paint, and are often consulted by the people.
Here are some that you should know. Anangu traditionally greet each other by saying 'palya', a word that can also mean welcome, thank you, understood, ok and goodbye. Greeting Anangu with a friendly 'palya' while in the park is a simple way to show respect for the local culture.
Tidda is an aboriginal word meaning sister, best friend, Aunty or mentor.
crazy: you're womba. Contributor's comments: This is a term I have heard throughout Queensland, particularly, South East, and all up the coast, as well as Darling Downs and Western Queensland. It is mainly used by young Aboriginal people.
Use of the term Aunty or Uncle
Titles such as Aunty and Uncle are used as marks of respect for Elders in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
It is a sign of respect to refer to those older than you as Aunty or Uncle especially if they are family. This includes extended family. By using Aunty or Uncle you show that you respect them, their leadership and their lived experience which typically outweighs those who are younger.
Unlike the non-indigenous surname system, husbands and wives in Aboriginal communities don't share the same Skin Name, and children don't share their parents' name. Rather, it is a sequential system.