Don't say this word if you're in Australia: 'I thought that was fine'
- Replies 49
Navigating the cultural nuances of language can be a minefield, especially in a diverse and multicultural society like Australia.
In our interactions with others, it's not rare to unintentionally cause offence, whether through words, actions, or gestures. While intentions may be harmless, the impact of our behaviour can sometimes be misunderstood.
One expat recently discovered this the hard way when she used a seemingly innocent term that turned out to be offensive to Australians.
Emily Tollefson, an American expat living in Sydney for almost two years, was taken aback when she found out that the term 'champ' is considered offensive in Australia.
Her revelation came about during a conversation with her Australian best friend about words that are offensive in one country but not in the other.
‘She told me that the word "champ" is wildly offensive in Australia—and I thought she was taking the p***.’
She explained that in her mind, the term is a casual way to address people, similar to 'buddy', 'pal', or 'mate'.
However, in Australia, it carries a different connotation.
The incident that sparked this discussion was a text message Emily sent to a man she was seeing.
‘He'd been out drinking the night before, so I sent him a message in the morning saying, "How are you feeling, champ?".’
His response was: 'Please don't call me that'.
Emily continued, ‘In my American brain, I thought that was fine. Some guys don't like to be called "champ", "mate", or "buddy" by girls they're seeing.’
'I told my best friend this story, and she told me that “champ” was very offensive in Australia—but that's not how I meant it.'
Several Australians chimed in on the matter.
One Australian man explained, 'Try being a bloke calling another bloke “champ” at a pub. It’s a term used for kids, and when you use it on another adult, you're undermining them.'
Another added, 'If you call a little kid “champ” it's fine. If you call an adult “champ”, you are being super patronising and picking a fight.'
‘“Champ”, “chief”, “captain”, “pal”, “sport”, and “tiger” are all seen as derogatory,’ one wrote.
However, not everyone agreed with this sentiment.
One man said, 'It's not offensive. Some people are just offended by everything. Toughen up, cupcake.'
Another added, 'I'm Aussie and today's year old, when I learn “champ” is an offensive word!! I've been living under a rock, it appears.'
The difference in connotation can lead to misunderstandings and even offence when people from different cultures interact.
Just like how one Canadian got confused about a very common phrase that Aussies say. You can read the full story here.
Have you ever experienced a cultural misunderstanding due to language differences? Share your stories in the comments below.
In our interactions with others, it's not rare to unintentionally cause offence, whether through words, actions, or gestures. While intentions may be harmless, the impact of our behaviour can sometimes be misunderstood.
One expat recently discovered this the hard way when she used a seemingly innocent term that turned out to be offensive to Australians.
Emily Tollefson, an American expat living in Sydney for almost two years, was taken aback when she found out that the term 'champ' is considered offensive in Australia.
Her revelation came about during a conversation with her Australian best friend about words that are offensive in one country but not in the other.
‘She told me that the word "champ" is wildly offensive in Australia—and I thought she was taking the p***.’
She explained that in her mind, the term is a casual way to address people, similar to 'buddy', 'pal', or 'mate'.
However, in Australia, it carries a different connotation.
Emily Tollefson, an American expat living in Sydney, shared her story about how she unknowingly offended an Aussie man she was dating. Credits: Instagram / Emily Tollefson
The incident that sparked this discussion was a text message Emily sent to a man she was seeing.
‘He'd been out drinking the night before, so I sent him a message in the morning saying, "How are you feeling, champ?".’
His response was: 'Please don't call me that'.
Emily continued, ‘In my American brain, I thought that was fine. Some guys don't like to be called "champ", "mate", or "buddy" by girls they're seeing.’
'I told my best friend this story, and she told me that “champ” was very offensive in Australia—but that's not how I meant it.'
Several Australians chimed in on the matter.
One Australian man explained, 'Try being a bloke calling another bloke “champ” at a pub. It’s a term used for kids, and when you use it on another adult, you're undermining them.'
Another added, 'If you call a little kid “champ” it's fine. If you call an adult “champ”, you are being super patronising and picking a fight.'
‘“Champ”, “chief”, “captain”, “pal”, “sport”, and “tiger” are all seen as derogatory,’ one wrote.
However, not everyone agreed with this sentiment.
One man said, 'It's not offensive. Some people are just offended by everything. Toughen up, cupcake.'
Another added, 'I'm Aussie and today's year old, when I learn “champ” is an offensive word!! I've been living under a rock, it appears.'
The difference in connotation can lead to misunderstandings and even offence when people from different cultures interact.
Just like how one Canadian got confused about a very common phrase that Aussies say. You can read the full story here.
Have you ever experienced a cultural misunderstanding due to language differences? Share your stories in the comments below.
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