A Canadian influencer has noticed a very unique phrase all Aussies say and it’s one he can’t seem to wrap his head around.
Josiah Hein, who is currently travelling around Australia and sharing the strange differences between Down under and his native Canada.
Taking to TikTok, where he boasts 88,000 followers, Josiah shared a short clip that appeared to have been shot in a Costco.
The affable influencer revealed he was surprised with how Australians frequently use the word ‘keen’ to issue enthusiasm or excitement.
‘In Australia, they say “keen” instead of “down” or “I’m keen”, instead of “I’m down”,’ Josiah said in the clip.
‘So, if you’re like, “Dude, do you want to go to the movies?” They will just text you: “keen.” Everyone I know would say “down”, or “I’m down bro, count me in,” but here, it’s like “keen.”‘
Josiah was also at a loss to explain the elongated version of the Aussie slang term.
‘Sometimes Australians will say: “I’m keen as mustard, bro,” he said with a wry, questioning grin.
Canadian TikToker Josiah Hein has revealed he was surprised with how Australians frequently use the word ‘keen’ to issue enthusiasm or excitement
Josiah’s Antipodean followers were quick to educate him on local linguistics.
‘Because “keen” is a real word in the dictionary meaning eager. You say I’m down is slang,’ one follower wrote.
Others were quick to point out that the term ‘keen as mustard’ is derived from the beloved Keens Mustard Powder which has long been an Australian pantry staple.
One fan however suggested the slang wasn’t Aussie in origin at all, but rather found in US TV shows such as The Brady Bunch.
‘Pretty sure this is from ’50’s ’60s USA TV, they said. ‘I’m peachy keen Marcia Marcia Marcia.’
Josiah was also at a loss to explain the elongated version – keen as mustard.
One pedantic fan saw further nuance in the discussion though, arguing that keen does not necessarily mean down.
‘Keen is eager, but not a definite “yes”‘, they wrote.
Josiah managed to trigger many Aussies in 2023 for mispronouncing Australian cities Melbourne and Canberra in a ‘rage-inducing’ video.
Coming across the Australian Capital Territory, Josiah referred to the acronym as ‘act’ instead of ACT and went on to claim it was ‘confusing’ that a city ‘no one has heard of’ is Australia’s capital.
He also mispronounced Melbourne as ‘Mell-born’ instead of ‘Mel-bin’ and Canberra as ‘Cane-berr-ah’ instead of ‘Can-brah’.
Josiah’s Antipodean followers were quick to educate him on local linguistics
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