I was wondering where the word Oz came from as a way of saying Australia. Is Oz a reference to the Wizard of Oz? Thanks.

I think it just comes from calling Australians, "Aussies", except it sounds more like, "Ozzies", hence they come from Oz.

OZ tralia - ( Australia) - OZ

Judy Garland (Dorothy) stepped into the wonder land and stated !!!

"I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!"

And she was not.

She was in an enchanting, beautiful, exciting, colorful, friendly, place with an amazing adventure awaiting her around every corner.

She was in the land of OZ.

Once you have beeen to Australia you will feel the same. Its an amazing land bathed in sun shine with an abundance of fresh food and water and all sorts of strange mostly friendly critters wandering about.

It's the land of OZ.

'strue!!!!

I thought Ozzie and Harriet or Ozzy Osbourne? no ?

A/D

As an australian i can assure you that the word OZ comes from the abreviation Aus (sounds like oz) tralia. We are all aussies, or come from Oz.

it comes from the shortning or Australia to Aus which is said oz... its easier to write oz than Aus and it means people pronounce it properly. people tend to miss pronounce Aussie (it should be said ozzie)

Yes, I have to agree with those comments. Whilst in London, I looked into Fodors website on my son's computer, and got a few chuckles from the posting regarding, " ies" added onto various words. I especially liked the one(I think from LizF) about having a muddie and tinnie, whilst overlooking the ocean at Straddie.