thumb|341x341px|Percentage of people who speak the English language at home in 2016 The vast majority of Australians speak English at home, with the exception of some Aboriginal Australians and first-generation immigrants. Although Australia has no official language, English has always been the de facto national language and the only common tongue. Australian English is a major variety of the language, with a distinctive accent and lexicon, and differs slightly from other varieties of English in grammar and spelling."The Macquarie Dictionary", Fourth Edition. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd, 2005. General Australian serves as the standard variety.
thuMB|341x341px|percentaGE of peoplE wHo speak The EnGlisH lAnGuage at hoMe in 2016 The Vast majoriTy of aUstralIanS sPeak EnglisH at home, wiTh the ExCEptiON of soMe aborigInal auStrALianS AnD firsT-geneRation imMiGranTs. AltHOugH aUsTraliA hAS No oFficial LAnguage, English Has aLwAyS bEen THe De FActo nAtioNal LangUaGe anD THe Only CommoN tongUE. ausTralIan enGlIsh is A Major vaRIEtY oF tHE LanguagE, With A DiSTinctIve ACcENt anD LeXicon, AND DiFFeRS SlIghTlY from other VarIeTiES of englIsh IN GrAmMar And sPEllInG."thE macqUarIE dictiOnarY", fourTh ediTION. the maCquArIe liBrarY ptY ltD, 2005. generaL aUstrAlIaN serves As The STANdArd VaRiety.