AussiePOD: Aussie Picture Of the Day

Most Aboriginal people had no name for themselves as a people before their encounter with Europeans in the 18th century, as only a few on the northern coast had ever encountered outsiders. The word aboriginal, in use in English since the 17th century to mean "first or earliest known, indigenous", was used in Australia as early as 1789; it was soon capitalised and became the standard name for indigenous Australians.

Strictly speaking Aboriginal is an adjective and Aborigine is a noun. Some indigenous Australians consider the term "Aborigines" derogatory as it stems from Australia's colonial history which was borderline genocide. If you want to know what an Indigenous Australian wants to call themself the best way to find out is to ask them. Note that the once-common abbreviation Abo is highly offensive. Today the preferred usages are Aboriginal People (as in "This is what Aboriginal people want") or Indigenous Australians (which also includes Torres Strait Islanders).

A generally acceptable indigenous name for most of the Aboriginal people in New South Wales and Victoria is Koori (or Koorie). Aboriginal groups in other parts of Australia have their own names, such as Murri in southern Queensland, Noongar in southern Western Australia, Nunga in southern South Australia, Anangu in northern South Australia, and neighbouring parts of Western Australia and Northern Territory and Palawah (or Pallawah) in Tasmania. These names are an indicator of location. For example, Anangu, meaning a person from Australia's central desert area, is a member of one of these Indigenous groups: Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjara, Luritja or Antikirinya.