It is extremely important to verify words and names which relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and languages. It is considered disrespectful to incorrectly name or spell these terms, especially the names of people and Country. There are hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, but you will find commonly used words and names in this article.
You can always use a search engine to find words, remembering to use a reliable source like a community support centre or a university website. AIATSIS is a good example of a reliable source of information.
If an Indigenous language is spoken and you know the name of the language, you should include it in the descriptive label, for example (SPEAKS NOONGAR). If the name of the language is not known, you should use (SPEAKS AN INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE). If you aren’t familiar with Indigenous languages, it can be hard to identify when one is spoken in a file.
Keep an ear out for relevant words, such as those in the table below. These words must always be capitalised in contexts that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and languages.
| Common Words: |
| Aboriginal |
| Torres Strait Islander |
| Indigenous |
| Elders |
| Traditional Owners |
| Traditional Custodians |
| First Nations |
| Country |
| Welcome to Country |
| Acknowledgement of Country |
Common words
| Word | Meaning | Sounds like |
| Boodjar Booja | Land, ground, earth | Boo-ja |
| Derbal Yerrigan | Nyungar name for Swan River | Der-bal Yer-ee-gan |
| Djarlgarra | Nyungar name for Canning River | Jal-garra |
| Wadjela | White people | Wohj-jell-ah |
| Womindjika Womindjeka Wominjeka Womin-dji-ka | “Welcome” | Wom-in-jeeka |
Common names
| Name | Sounds like | Where | Alternative spelling(s) |
| Anaiwan people | An-ay-wan | Armidale New England New South Wales | Anewan Anaywan |
| Awabakal people | Uh-wuh-bah-kul | Newcastle Lake Macquarie Hunter Region New South Wales | |
| Bidjigal people | Bidge-ee-gul | New South Wales | Bedegal Bediagal Biddegal |
| Boon Wurrung people | Boon-wah-rung | Port Phillip Naarm Kulin nation Melbourne, Victoria | Boonwurrung |
| Bundjalung people | Bun-ja-lung | Yugumbeh Cavanbah North-eastern New South Wales South-eastern Queensland | Bunjalung Badjalang Bandjalang |
| Bunurong people | Boor-rong | Naarm Kulin nation Melbourne, Victoria Mornington Peninsula | |
| Darkinjung | Dark-in-yung OR Dark-in-joong | Tuggerah Lakes Lake Macquarie Central Coast, New South Wales | Darkinyung |
| Darug people | Duh-rug | Sydney, New South Wales | Dharug |
| Dharawal people | Dah-rah-wool | Sydney South Coast New South Wales | Tharawal |
| Dhungutti | Dun-gutt-ee | Northern Tablelands Mid North Coast New South Wales | Dhunghutti Dhanggati Dunghutti Djangadi Dainggati Tunggutti |
| Dja Dja Wurrung | Jar-jar-wor-rong | Dja Dja Wurrung Country Bendigo, Victoria | |
| Eora nation | Yor-rah | Wollongong Sydney New South Wales | |
| Gadigal people | Gad-ee-gal | Gadigal Country Sydney, New South Wales | Cadigal |
| Gamilaraay people | Guh-mill-ah-roy | Northern New South Wales Southern Queensland | Kamilaroi Gomeroi |
| Gubbi Gubbi people | Guh-bee guh-bee | South east Queensland | |
| Gumbaynggirr people | Goom-bayn-geer | Mid North Coast, New South Wales | |
| Gunditjmara people | Goon-it-ji-mah-rah | Gunditjmara Country Warrnambool Victoria | Gunditjamara |
| Kaurna people | Gar-nah | Kaurna Country Adelaide Plains, South Australia | Coorna Guarna |
| Koori people | Koo-ree | North to South coastal areas, New South Wales Northeastern Victoria | Koorie Goori Goorie |
| Kulin nation | Cool-lan | Naarm Melbourne South Central Victoria | |
| Noongar nation | Noong-ah | Perth Southwestern Western Australia | Nyungar Nyoongar |
| Ngunnawal people | Nun-ah-wall | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory New South Wales | |
| Peek Whurrung people | Peek-wuh-rung | Maar Country Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Victoria | |
| Pinjarup people | Pin-jah-roob | Noongar Country Pinjarra, Western Australia Southwest Western Australia | Pindjarup Pindjareb Pinjareb Bindjareb Binjareb |
| Pitjantjatjara people | Pi-dung-juh-ruh | Uluru Central Australia Far north South Australia APY Lands | |
| Turrbal people | Tur-a-bul | Meanjin Brisbane, Queensland | |
| Wadawurrung people | Wad-ah-wuh-rung Wad-ah-rung | Djillong Country Geelong, Victoria | Wathaurung Wathaurong |
| Whadjuk people | Wad-jook | Noongar Country Perth, Western Australia | Wadjuk |
| Wiradjuri people | Wor-ad-joo-ree | Central West, New South Wales | |
| Wongutha people | Wung-guth-ah | Kalgoorlie Nullarbor Plain Goldfields-Esperance region, Western Australia | Wangkatha |
| Wurundjeri people | Wor-un-joo-ree | Woiwurrung Country Naarm Kulin nation Melbourne, Victoria | |
| Yorta Yorta people | Yor-da-yor-da | Yorta Yorta Country Northeastern Victoria near the Murray and Goulburn Rivers | Jotijota |
| Yugambeh people | Yoog-gum-beh | Tweed Heads Gold Coast Logan City Southeast Queensland Northern New South Wales | Yugumbir |
| Yuggera people | Yug-ah-ra | Moreton Bay Toowoomba Meanjin Brisbane, Queensland | Yaggera Yugara Yagarr Jagera Jagara |
| Yuin nation | Yoo-in | South Coast Wollongong, New South Wales |
If you have tried to verify a word and cannot find what you are looking for in a verified source, you can use (UNKNOWN).
If you come across an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander name or word that you would like added to this page, contact Online Support via email!