Where “Coober Pedy” Comes From
Coober Pedy is an opal-mining town in South Australia. Its name is usually said to come from the Aboriginal words “kupa piti”, often translated as “white man in a hole”.
Because of the extreme summer heat, many residents live in “dugouts”, homes dug into the hillsides, which stay cool.
“We toured the underground church in Coober Pedy.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it in tourism, opal and outback stories.
In Real Life
In Coober Pedy, houses, shops, churches and even a hotel are built underground. The town’s landscape is dotted with mounds from opal diggings. Visitors tour mines, buy opals and sleep in underground rooms. The area has also been used as a film location because of its desert scenery.
Quick Questions
Why do people live underground in Coober Pedy?
To escape the extreme heat above ground.
What does Coober Pedy mean?
It’s said to come from Aboriginal words usually translated as “white man in a hole”.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: KOO-buh PEE-dee.
In conversation:
- People live underground in Coober Pedy.
- He mined opals in Coober Pedy.
- Coober Pedy gets scorching in summer.
Good to know: Opal fields have deep mine shafts that aren’t always marked. Stay on marked tracks and follow local advice.
See also: Outback
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