What language is spoken in Australia?
English is the main language spoken in Australia and the language of government, schools and business. Australia has no official language in law, but English is the national language in practice.
Australian English has its own accent, vocabulary and slang, such as arvo for afternoon and servo for service station. Spelling generally follows British conventions, so Australians write colour and centre.
Before British colonization, more than 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were spoken across the continent. Many have been lost or are endangered, but communities are working to revive and teach them. Languages such as Yolngu Matha, Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte are still spoken daily in some regions.
A multilingual country
Australia is home to people from around the world, and more than a fifth of Australians speak a language other than English at home. Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Punjabi are among the most common.
Auslan, Australian Sign Language, is used by the Deaf community. Visitors from other English-speaking countries usually have no trouble being understood, though some local expressions can take time to learn.
Did You Know?
Kriol, an English-based creole, is spoken by thousands of Aboriginal people in northern Australia.