No, it’s probably short for Yankee.
So, what happens when a sweet young thing with an obvious Georgian drawl asks for directions to the Sydney Opera House? Is she still a “Yank?”
<Ambrose Bierce>
YANKEE, n. In Europe, an American. In the Northern States of our Union, a New Englander. In the Southern States the word is unknown. (See DAMYANK.)
</Ambrose Bierce>
<E. B. White>
To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Northerners, a Yankee is an Easterner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast.
</E. B. White>
In all my years spent in Australia, I was never called a Seppo. A few times a Yank but that’s it. When I asked further (on several occasions with different people in different places in Australia) the response was pretty much universal:
[ul]
[li]I didn’t sound like an arrogant New Yorker. [/li][li]I didn’t sound like a backwards Southerner. (My wife’s response? “Well, bless their hearts.” Her voice can melt anyone. Mmmm.)[/li][li]I DIDN"T SOUND LIKE AN OBNOXIOUS, LOUD CALIFORNIAN. This I have first-hand experience while living in Oz. An embarrassment experienced many, many times, including while living in California for a bit after returning from Oz.[/li][li]I was often asked if I was Canadian, who are really liked in Oz.[/li][/ul]
Granted, these life experiences are a few years old and the broad brush really isn’t fair. For that, I apologize. At the same time, they are my experiences. In other words, the Australians I met are just as nice, friendly, stupid, smart, self-centered, wonderful, etc., as us Yanks are here in the States.
With one exception.
The tall poppy syndrome is killing Oz.
Yes. Non-Americans don’t know what the Mason-Dixon Line is and don’t care which side you’re from. A Yank is an American.
I agree with the above:
- American pretty much all the time
- Yank (never Yankee) in a mildly derogatory sense.
- Usasian in a lighthearted sense, possibly up there with the very occasional “Pomgolian” for the our English friends.
- Seppo…well I’m aware of it, but I’ve never heard being spoken.
Now, Australia is more culturally diverse that it may initially appear. As far as I know “Seppo” could be used all the time by battler diggers nursing schooners in outback RSLs.
It never got a huge foothold anywhere, AFAIK, it’s more of a media thing.
Like Kwanzaa.
Oh boy, oh boy, I sure hope so! 
hey, i’m aussie, living in an outer suburb of sydney, and honestly i have never heard the term seppo. rhyming slang used to be commonly spoken, but it’s rarely heard today. also, rhyming slang and “occa” (typically australian) words make up a form of english we call “strine”. strine is generally spoken more by tradesman and farmers (though not always). so i suppose to hear words like “seppo” it really depends what part of the country you are in.
i would more likely use the term “yank” for an american. “yank”, “bloody yank” etc. is not necessarily derogatory. “bloody …” is used in a friendly context often as not. As my brother just said, it is almost a term of endearment. it really depends on the intonation of the speakers voice.
as for that. to some degree i agree with you. in schools i believe it is a big problem. however, to a certain degree tall poppy is just part of our culture. the hardworking aussie who puts their head down and does their job to the best or their ability but doesnt brag or expect any recognition is highly valued to us. someone who complains or “showboats”/shows off is not respected at all.
I lived in Sydney for a while in 1983-84. I was always “The Yank” or “Tex”.
Whazzat?
I use “seppo” for someone from the US on occasions. Probably not to their faces though. I’m mid thirties and from a trade/industrial employment background. I think I picked the term up in the early 90’s from another tradesman I used to work with. I don’t think it’s really redundant, it’s probably just used in certain circles.
I like the term a lot. Reckon it’s cleverer than “Yank”. And yes, you’re all potentially yanks here, regardless of your side in the [del]war of northern aggression[/del] civil war. I know it only really applies to north easterners, but hey, if it’s that or septics…
I think we generally take you lot as we find you, I certainly don’t dislike you guys as individuals. As a stereotype group though, you’re worth poking a bit of fun at (as we all are, I reckon).
I’ve heard Seppo before both in Oz and from Aussies abroad. Much more common though for the English to use Septic.
For Americans that actually understand Septic or Seppo, it is fucking infuriating to hear someone gobbing off the term to an oblivious American. I’ve seen this piss taking in action far too many times ranging from Sandhurst graduates to uneducated brokers to outback yabbos (sp?). Just be a man and use a derogatory term directly instead of like some sniggering schoolgirl. Thank you.
tall poppy syndrome:
No-one’s yet mentioned the other term that’s around: merkin. But yes, Yank is far and away the most common.
How sweet? How young? She might qualify to be a “potential root”.
I’ve never heard anyone outside a “Bluey & Curly” comic call Americans “Seppos”- it’s always been “Yanks” (never “Yankees”, as has already been mentioned) or “Americans”.
Add one to the list who in years has never heard ‘seppo.’ Looks like an affectation.
Come to that, even ‘Yanks’ is pretty rare. In their weird local argot the most common would be ‘Americans.’
You’ve clearly never sat in the back of a London cab.
Really? I’ve never heard anybody in the UK use the term “septic”. I’m almost 100% sure that none of my friends would even understand what was meant by “septic”, “seppo” or other variants, and the only reason that I know it is because of this board.
Who did you hear saying it? How old were they, and where were they from?
Yes in my experience “seppo” is one of those “slang” terms that is raised only in discussions about slang terms that Australians supposedly use for Americans. It is never actually used by Australians as a slang term for Americans.