How did Australia get started being called Oz?

Question

How did Australia get started being called Oz?

Answer 1

shortened/nicknamed from the first three letters - AUS-tralia I think

Answer 2

Australians typically shorten words to the least amount of syllables and still be understandable.

The nations name Australia started out being shortened to Aussie (this can also mean someone from Australia).  Australians always pronounce Aussie with a hard 'S' sound (said exactly like Ozzie as in Osborne fame).   It was only natural with that pronunciation that Aussie would be shortened to Oz.

The fact that Frank L Baum created a fantasy world of the same name is just an ironic coincidence that tickles the Aussie funny bone.   The other sweet coincidence is that Sydney, our largest city, is officially nicknamed "The Emerald City" (not because of the story but from the colour of the water in the harbour).

It should be noted that Australians almost never shorten Australia to aus as is commonly done by Americans when abreviating words on the internet.   They will always use Oz over Aus.   Doing differently instantly marks you as an foreigner.

Answer 3

if you live there ask some one

or check this out

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/artic...

Answer 4

Aussie (pronounced Ozzie) is short for Australian, and that has been shortened even further to Oz for Australia.

Answer 5

The term 'Oz' is used to describe places that are unreal or magical, and i think it stems from L. Frank Baum's 'The Wonderful World of Oz'.

So in informal language, Australia is called Oz.

Answer 6

well, Australians being Australians have to shorten everything. So we started calling it Aussie. for example a man named Barry will be called Bazza. then because we have lazy jaws it ended up being ozzie. then it has just been shortened further to oz. like Bazza to Baz!!

=)