Do South Africans sound like Australians?

Question

I'm a South African living in the UK and have often has English people ask me if I'm from Australia. I've never been to Austalia, so please tell me, do you think South Africans sound Australian?

Answer 1

They sound a cross between Australian and cockney

Answer 2

Lol, well as a Brit I'm afraid to tell you that your accent is not unique. To us Brits you guys sound almost identical to Canadians and a lot of us can't tell the difference between the two accents. As Brits, Aussies and South Africans have very different accents. When you're not particularly worldly wise and aren't used to hearing people from other nations speak it may seem like we all sound the same, but if you were to get a passport and travel the world a bit you'd see how wrong you are.

Answer 3

Native English speakers in South Africa have an accent that generally resembles British Received pronunciation modified with varying degrees of Germanic inflection (caused by the Afrikaner influence). Native English speakers in South Africa also insert varying numbers of Afrikaans and Zulu loanwords into their speech. British people often confuse South African English with Australian English while Americans often confuse it with an Upper Class British accent ;-)

Answer 4

I can tell the difference between South Africans and Australians...it's Australians and New Zealanders that confuse me.

Answer 5

No South Africans do not sound like Australians. People in the UK probably are not accustomed to your acent, can't place it and think maybe you are Australians. Americans hear, Kiwis, Aussies, South Africans, South Carolinians even!!!! and think they are from the UK.

Answer 6

No. But then I've lived in Australia.
I remember meeting a black South African. I remarked that his English was 'British English' and that he didn't have a SA accent.
He got a bit 'uppy' and said, 'It's a question of education.' Which put me in my place. SA, Australian, NZ, Canadian,anything has to be better than what they call English over the pond.

Answer 7

No the South African accent sounds a bit like Cockney and Australian but is also more abrupt than either Australian or Cockney. it is also slightly more nasal

Answer 8

Many English people are unable to distinguish between "colonial accents", but to me, South Africans, Australians and New Zealanders have 3 quite distinct accents.

I do, however, find it impossible to distinguish between South Africans and Zimbabweans.

Answer 9

Only people unfamiliar & uneducated regarding the Australian accent could possibly think South Africans sounded similar.

Here in Oz a South African only has to open his mouth & he stands out different .

Their accent sounds a bit like native Dutch & German speaking people speaking English.

They don't sound like Oz, British, Kiwi or Yank.

Answer 10

half of my family is south african
I am english and have spent my whole life over in england - but when i see my south african family i can see how people can be confused between the australian accent.....

the australian accent is heard more than south african so people jump to the ocnclusion it must be....but once theyv'e heard your accent they'll know the difference!!!!!!!!!!

:)

Answer 11

Wo, I'm not from South Africa, but think the people from there speak English like the Australians, both are originally from England, I think! You have a good day! Jimmy.