List of English words of Australian Aboriginal origin facts for kids

Many English words we use today actually come from the amazing Australian Aboriginal languages. Some of these words are mostly used in Australian English, which is how people speak in Australia. But others, like kangaroo and boomerang, are known all over the world! It's pretty cool how languages share words.

Words for Australian Animals and Plants

Australia is home to many unique animals and plants, and some of their names come from Aboriginal languages. Here are some of them:

• ballart - A type of plant.
• barramundi - A large fish found in northern Australia.
• bilby - A small, long-eared marsupial.
• bindii - A prickly plant.
• bogong - A type of moth.
• boobook - A small owl.
• brigalow - A type of tree.
• brolga - A large, grey crane known for its dancing.
• budgerigar - A small, colourful parrot, often kept as a pet.
• bunyip - A mythical creature from Aboriginal stories, said to live in swamps or waterholes.
• burdardu - A type of plant.
• coolabah - A type of eucalyptus tree, often found near water.
• cumbungi - A type of reed, also known as bulrush.
• cunjevoi - A type of plant or marine animal.
• curara - A type of plant.
• currawong - A large, black bird with a distinctive call.
• dillon bush - A type of bush.
• dingo - A wild dog native to Australia.
• galah - A pink and grey cockatoo, also used to describe a silly person.
• gang-gang - A small, grey cockatoo with a red head (males).
• geebung - A type of shrub with edible fruit.
• gidgee - A type of acacia tree.
• gilgie - A small freshwater crayfish.
• gymea - A tall plant with a large red flower.
• jarrah - A tall eucalyptus tree, known for its strong timber.
• kangaroo - A large marsupial that hops.
• koala - A cute marsupial that eats eucalyptus leaves.
• kookaburra - A bird famous for its laugh-like call.
• kurrajong - A type of tree.
• kutjera - A type of bush tomato.
• mallee - A type of eucalyptus tree that grows with many stems from the ground.
• marri - A type of eucalyptus tree.
• mihirung - A mythical giant bird.
• mulga - A type of acacia tree common in dry areas.
• Myall - A type of acacia tree.
• numt - A type of plant.
• pademelon - A small marsupial, similar to a wallaby.
• potoroo - A small marsupial, like a mini kangaroo.
• quandong - A native fruit tree.
• quokka - A small, friendly marsupial from Western Australia.
• quoll - A carnivorous marsupial.
• taipan - A very venomous snake.
• wallaby - A marsupial, smaller than a kangaroo.
• wallaroo - A marsupial, between a wallaby and a kangaroo in size.
• waratah - A beautiful red flower, the state emblem of New South Wales.
• warrigal - Another name for a dingo.
• witchetty - A large, edible larva of a moth, a traditional food.
• wobbegong - A type of carpet shark.
• wombat - A burrowing marsupial.
• wonga - A type of pigeon.
• wonga-wonga - A type of vine.
• yabby - A freshwater crayfish.

Words About the Environment

Some words from Aboriginal languages describe parts of the Australian landscape:

• billabong - A waterhole or a branch of a river that forms a pool.
• bombora - A large wave that breaks over a hidden reef or rock.
• boondie - A hard clump of sand, often found on beaches in Western Australia.
• gilgai - Small, shallow depressions in the ground, often found in clay soils.
• lerp - A sweet, sugary substance made by tiny insects on eucalyptus leaves, eaten by Aboriginal people.
• min-min lights - Mysterious lights sometimes seen at night in remote parts of Australia.
• willy willy - A small whirlwind or dust devil.

Words About Aboriginal Culture

These words help us understand more about Aboriginal culture and daily life:

• alcheringa - A term for the 'Dreamtime' or 'Dreaming', which is a very important part of Aboriginal spiritual beliefs.
• bingy - Means belly.
• boomerang - A curved throwing stick that can return to the thrower.
• bunyip - A mythical creature from Aboriginal stories.
• coolamon - A curved wooden bowl used by Aboriginal people to carry water, food, or even babies.
• corroboree - A traditional Aboriginal dance ceremony, often involving singing, dancing, and storytelling.
• dilli - A bag, often called a "dilly-bag."
• djanga - A type of spirit or ghost.
• gibber - A stone or rock, often used to describe a "gibber plain," which is a stony desert.
• gunyah - A simple hut or shelter.
• humpy - Another word for a simple hut or shelter.
• kurdaitcha - A traditional Aboriginal tracker or a special shoe worn by them.
• marn grook - A traditional Aboriginal football game.
• mia-mia - Another word for a simple hut or shelter.
• nulla-nulla - A wooden club used for hunting or fighting.
• turndun - A type of bullroarer, a traditional musical instrument.
• waddy - A wooden club or stick.
• woggabaliri - A traditional Aboriginal game.
• woomera - A wooden tool used to throw spears with more force and accuracy.
• wurlie or wurley - Another word for a hut or shelter.
• yabber or yabber-yabber - To talk a lot.
• yakka - Means hard work or effort.
• Yara-ma-yha-who - A mythical creature from Aboriginal stories.

Words for People and Greetings

Some Aboriginal words are used to describe different Aboriginal groups or for greetings:

• Koori - A term used by Aboriginal people from Victoria and New South Wales to refer to themselves.
• cooee - A loud call used to attract attention, often heard in the bush.
• Nunga - A term used by Aboriginal people from South Australia to refer to themselves.
• Murri - A term used by Aboriginal people from Queensland to refer to themselves.
• Noongar - A term used by Aboriginal people from southern Western Australia to refer to themselves.
• Palawa - A term used by Aboriginal people from Tasmania to refer to themselves.

Words You Might Think Are Aboriginal, But Aren't!

It's easy to think that many unique Australian words come from Aboriginal languages, but some actually have different origins!

• bandicoot - This word comes from the Telugu language in India, and originally referred to a different animal.
• cockabully - This word comes from the Māori language in New Zealand.
• cockatoo - This word comes from the Malay language.
• didgeridoo - This famous Aboriginal instrument's name might come from Irish or Scottish Gaelic words.
• emu - This word comes from Arabic, through Portuguese, and means 'large bird'.
• goanna - This word is a changed version of 'iguana', which comes from the Taíno language.
• jabiru - This word comes from a language spoken in South America and originally referred to an American bird.
• nullarbor - This name comes from Latin and means 'no tree'.