Australians coin coronavirus words, expressions

Covidiots, Rona, quarantini, doughnut day

SYDNEY, Australia (Xinhua) -- Just like COVID-19 strains have mutated over the past 18 months, so too has the Australian vernacular adapted to the changing environment with a humorous cluster of corona based colloquial words and expressions.

Lexicographers, who compile dictionaries, have noted the rise of some colorful additions to the Aussie language, including Covidiots, Uploading my vaxxies (selfie photos while getting vaccinated) and Rona (short for Corona) wrecked my wedding plans, which would have had Aussies scratching their heads prior to the pandemic.

People are having a bit more fun on these words, senior editor of the Macquarie Dictionary Victoria Morgan told Xinhua.

The dictionary is widely considered the nation's most authoritative work on Australian English.

When something affects everyone in society, people always need new language to describe what's happening, said Morgan.