Somethink, anythink, I seen it, I done it.

Posted by Lotg on May 15, 2003

I don't think I've heard this anywhere but Australia, but in some areas, some people pronounce something, anything, nothing, etc. as somethink, anythink, nothink...

Normally attributed I think to working class or poorer areas. Don't want to get anyone off-side here, but that is generally where I hear it - although not always.

Maybe this happens in the UK too. Maybe that's where it originated, given Australia's working class white origins.

For the life of me I can't see how it could have evolved, or what benefit there is in pronouncing these words this way. Doesn't seem any easier to me, so laziness seems an unlikely reason.

And while I'm at it, another common turn of phrase is 'I seen it' or 'I done it', instead of I have seen it, or I have done it. This, could possibly be attributed to laziness I suppose.

Does anyone know how and where these terms evolved?

• Somethink, anythink, I seen it, I done it. Kit 05/15/03
  • Somethink, anythink, I seen it, I done it. Lotg 05/15/03