'I'm an American - I never realised this common word is offensive to adults'

01 March 2024 , 12:05

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'I'm an American - I never realised this common word is offensive to adults'

A woman from the US who moved to Australia has found that what she considers a term of endearment is actually a huge insult in her adopted country. The woman from Minnesota, who has been living in Sydney for almost two years, said she was having a discussion with her best friend Emily about what words were offensive in Australia that might not be offensive in America and vice versa.

And she was shocked to find out that one word she had used on her long-term boyfriend, which had triggered a very dry response from him was considered to be very offensive when used by one adult to refer to another adult.

Emily Tollefson said that she had texted her boyfriend and referred to him as "champ", but that he had replied with a curt: "Please don't call me that." Emily explained that to her, 'champ' was like 'buddy', 'pal', or 'mate' – very casual. She said: "Australians, I need you to tell me the truth right now. Last night, my Australian best friend and I were talking about words that are offensive in Australia that might not be offensive in America and vice versa.

"She told me that the word 'champ' is wildly offensive in Australia – and I thought she was taking the p**s. I've been seeing this guy for a while and I sent him a text that might have offended him. He'd been out drinking the night before so I sent him a message in the morning saying, 'How are you feeling, champ?."

And that's when Emily got the frosty text back. She added: "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."

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According to Mail Online, several Australians explained what the problem with the word was, with one saying: "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 your undermining them." while another said: "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."

But not all Aussies agreed with that take, with one saying: "It's not offensive. Some people are just offended by everything. Toughen up, cupcake," and another added: "I'm Aussie and today years old, when I learn 'champ' is an offensive word!! I've been living under a rock it appears."

Paul Donald