🇦🇺 Australian English dictionary 🇺🇸

• 🇦🇺 Australialabour

  🇺🇸 United Stateslabor

  Spelling work, especially physical work

  🇦🇺 The quote includes parts and labour.

  🇺🇸 The quote includes parts and labor.

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• 🇦🇺 Australialeukaemia

  🇺🇸 United Statesleukemia

  Spelling cancer of the blood

  🇦🇺 The charity funds leukaemia research.

  🇺🇸 The charity funds leukemia research.

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• 🇦🇺 Australialicence

  🇺🇸 United Stateslicense

  Spelling official permit (noun)

  🇦🇺 You need a licence to drive a forklift.

  🇺🇸 You need a license to drive a forklift.

  n/v Noun ≠ verb ☆ Save to my words
• 🇦🇺 Australialitre

  🇺🇸 United Statesliter

  Spelling unit of volume (1000 ml)

  🇦🇺 Buy two litres of milk, please.

  🇺🇸 Buy two liters of milk, please.

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• 🇦🇺 Australiamanoeuvre

  🇺🇸 United Statesmaneuver

  Spelling skilful movement or action

  🇦🇺 Reverse parking is a tricky manoeuvre.

  🇺🇸 Reverse parking is a tricky maneuver.

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• 🇦🇺 Australiametre

  🇺🇸 United Statesmeter

  Spelling unit of length (100 cm)

  🇦🇺 The pool is fifty metres long.

  🇺🇸 The pool is fifty meters long.

  ⚠️ False friend ☆ Save to my words

• 🇦🇺 Australiamould

  🇺🇸 United Statesmold

  Spelling fungus that grows in damp places

  🇦🇺 There's mould on the bathroom ceiling.

  🇺🇸 There's mold on the bathroom ceiling.

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• 🇦🇺 Australianeighbour

  🇺🇸 United Statesneighbor

  Spelling person who lives next to you

  🇦🇺 Our neighbour feeds our dog when we're away.

  🇺🇸 Our neighbor feeds our dog when we're away.

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• 🇦🇺 Australianeighbourhood

  🇺🇸 United Statesneighborhood

  Spelling area around where you live

  🇦🇺 It's a quiet neighbourhood with good schools.

  🇺🇸 It's a quiet neighborhood with good schools.

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• 🇦🇺 Australiaoestrogen

  🇺🇸 United Statesestrogen

  Spelling a female sex hormone

  🇦🇺 The test measures oestrogen levels.

  🇺🇸 The test measures estrogen levels.

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• 🇦🇺 Australiaoffence

  🇺🇸 United Statesoffense

  Spelling a crime; feeling of being insulted

  🇦🇺 Using a phone while driving is an offence.

  🇺🇸 Using a phone while driving is an offense.

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• 🇦🇺 Australiaorganise

  🇺🇸 United Statesorganize

  Spelling arrange or plan

  🇦🇺 Who is organising the end-of-year party?

  🇺🇸 Who is organizing the end-of-year party?

  s/z -ise / -ize ☆ Save to my words

🎯 Quick quiz

10 questions from the words in this list. Pick the matching word from the other country.

What the labels mean

💬 Informal

A casual Australian word — fine with friends and at work, but use the neutral word in formal writing.

≈ Not an exact match

The two words overlap, but they don't cover exactly the same things, sizes or systems.

⇄ Both used in Australia

Australians also use the American word; the Australian word is simply more common or more traditional.

⚠️ False friend

The same word means something different in the other country — be careful (e.g. thongs, rubber, jumper).

🗺️ Varies by state

Australians in different states may prefer different words.

s/z -ise / -ize

Australian style prefers -ise (organise); -ize is sometimes seen but is the American standard.

n/v Noun ≠ verb

Australian English spells the noun and the verb differently (a licence / to license, a practice / to practise). American English uses one spelling for both.

Example sentences are written by AUSLEX. Spelling follows the Australian Government Style Manual. Both countries understand both words — these are everyday preferences, not strict rules.