In Australia, the letter 'H' is pronounced either as "aitch" (like 'ate' + 'ch') or "haitch" (with a pronounced 'h' sound at the start), with both being common, though some older beliefs linked 'haitch' to Irish Catholic backgrounds and 'aitch' to others, creating a mild social division, but linguistically, neither is strictly "wrong," and 'haitch' is becoming more widespread.
Both "aitch" and "haitch" are used to pronounce the letter H, but "aitch" (/eɪtʃ/) is generally considered standard in most English dialects, while "haitch" (/heɪtʃ/) is common in places like Australia, Ireland, and parts of India, often linked to Irish Catholic history or as a hypercorrection. While "aitch" might be seen as more "proper" in some circles, "haitch" is a legitimate, though dialectal, variation, and the debate reflects social class perceptions, notes.
In a 1944 session of Australian Parliament, then-Senate president Gordon Brown said he had heard various members of Parliament pronounce H as 'haitch'. 'Whereas its proper pronunciation,' Brown opined, 'is aitch.
With aitch and haitch, it still seems to be linked to the speaker's religion. According to Rosen, “haitch” is the Catholic way and “aitch” is the Protestant way.
“G'day” What does it mean? General greeting, used instead of “hello”, both day and night. Often combined with “mate”, as in…
Woop Woop is used to refer to a place in the middle of nowhere. People use it to signify that a location is far away, unfamiliar to them, and difficult to get to.
In Northern Ireland the Catholic population is distinguished from the Protestant by the former saying 'haitch' and the latter 'aitch'. 'Haitch' is the way Catholic primary schools teach H in the alphabet and therefore may well have Papal authority as correct!
No, Australia is not 90% white; while a large majority identify with European ancestry (around 76-80% in recent years), a significant and growing portion identifies as Asian, African, Middle Eastern, or Indigenous, making it a highly multicultural nation with diverse ethnic backgrounds, not overwhelmingly white. Recent census data shows European ancestry (English, Irish, etc.) makes up a large chunk, but Asian ancestries are also substantial, with over 17% Asian population and around 3.8% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, per the 2021 census data from Wikipedia.
According to Stephen Alomes, a professor of Australian studies at Deakin University, the chant represents "enthusiasm for the tribe" and a "celebration of 'us' ", but at the extreme may act as a symbol of aggressive nationalism and xenophobia.
An Australian classic, “no worries” is often said instead of “that's alright” or “it was no trouble”. Similarly, you might hear “no dramas”, which means the same thing. If you thank someone for helping you and they say “no worries” or “no dramas” it means it was no problem for them to assist you.
I've mainly heard “haitch” in Australia and Singapore. Indeed, in the UK it sounds rather affected, though not as affected as “an historic” where the h is pronounced. The topic is whether you pronounce it as "an aitch" or "a haitch", not how it's used in a word.
Yes, "Koori" (or Koorie/Goori) is an appropriate regional term for Aboriginal people from southeastern Australia (NSW/Victoria), but it's always best to ask an individual their preference or use broader terms like "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander" or "First Nations people" if you're unsure, as "Koori" is specific to a region and not all Indigenous Australians identify with it. Using specific nation names (like Wiradjuri, Gunditjmara) is even better if known, but "Koori" is a respectful, reclaiming term for its specific area.
The 'h' sound (phoneme /h/) in English is a voiceless breathy sound, made by pushing air out with a relaxed mouth, often like whispering a vowel, and is usually followed by another vowel sound (e.g., hat, hope); however, 'h' can be silent in some words (like hour, honest, heir) or after 'g' (ghost), and its pronunciation can change in fast speech or certain dialects, sometimes being dropped in function words like him or her.
"To my mind, you can pronounce them any hold 'ow," he said. H is "the most contentious letter in the alphabet", wrote the poet and children's author Michael Rosen in The Guardian in 2013, with "aitch" considered "posh and 'right'", while "haitch" is "not posh and thus 'wrong'".
Aitch has released eleven top-10 singles in the UK, including "Taste (Make It Shake)" and "Baby", which both peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The name Aitch derives from the pronunciation of the letter 'h', which is the first letter of his Christian name.
About 85–90% of the population identifies as ethnically white (meaning of European ancestry), but this is actually a compilation of several ethnic categories. Around 25% identify as white Australian, while 26% identify as English, and the rest are a mixture of various European ethnicities ranging from Dutch to Greek.
Ladies in Black is a 2018 Australian comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford.
The proportion of Australia's population born outside Australia was 31.5%. England, India, China and New Zealand were the countries of birth with the largest populations. Those born in India recorded the largest increase since 2014.
The only country in the English speaking world to mis-pronounce aitch as 'haitch' is Australia. Aitch is listed in the Shorter Oxford Dictionary as the correct pronunciation of the letter 'H'.
Representing a state of Tranquility. Physical, emotional and Spiritual harmony. "Shalom" is not merely a greeting but a powerful Blessing and a reflection of God's nature. Everything put in its proper place, with no parts missing or broken.
Theological disputes
These included distinction between clergy and laity, the Catholic Church's monopoly on scriptural interpretation, the sale of indulgences, the nature of salvation, and more.
"Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, Oi, Oi, Oi!" is a popular Australian sports chant, a variation of the British "Oggy, Oggy, Oggy" cheer, used to express national pride and support for Australian teams, with "Ozzy" being slang for "Australian" and "Oi, Oi, Oi" a general interjection for enthusiasm or attention, much like "USA!". The chant involves one group shouting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" and the crowd responding "Oi, Oi, Oi!".
The birds have also come to be regarded as a problem species in Victoria as a result of their scavenging activities, scattering rubbish from tips and bins in the process, and earning the widespread nickname "bin chicken". They are even known to snatch sandwiches from picnickers.
inferior in character or quality; seedy; sleazy.