Michelle Monaghan says she won't raise her children in Australia because she doesn't want them to be 'lazy' speakers who 'shorten their words'

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U.S. actress Michelle Monaghan decided not to bring up her children in Australia because she feared they would 'only learn a quarter of the English language'.

The 46-year-old, who is married to Australian graphic artist Peter White, spoke of her decision to raise her family in America during an interview on Conan in 2014.

In the clip, which resurfaced this week, the Gone Baby Gone star said Australians are 'lazy speakers' and admitted she struggled to understand the lingo during a previous visit to Sydney.

U.S. actress Michelle Monaghan (pictured on Conan) decided not to bring up her children in Australia because she feared they would 'only learn a quarter of the English language' 

She also said Aussies 'drink a bottle of wine at lunch' before going back to work.

'They shorten everything; they are very lazy speakers. I can say this because I'm married to one [and] all my friends are Aussies,' she said.

'They don't only shorten their sentences, they shorten their words.

'On my very first trip, I was watching the news. The main news guy said, "It's gonna be a scorcher out there, make sure you bring your sunnies to brekkie."

'I said to my husband, "What the hell is he saying? Can you translate that for me?" He's a newsman, selling the national news. The children watch this!

The 46-year-old, who is married to Australian artist Peter White (pictured with their children), spoke of her decision to raise her family in America during an interview on Conan in 2014 

She added: 'And my husband said, "Make sure you bring your sunglasses to breakfast [because] it's going to be really hot tomorrow."

'And I thought, "I'm not raising my children Australian because they'll only learn a quarter of the English language."'

Talk show host Conan O'Brien then joked it was 'stupid' for the weather to be a breaking news story, to which Michelle replied: 'Isn't it great? There's not anything else they have to worry about. It's one of those countries.'

In the clip, which resurfaced this week, the Gone Baby Gone star said Australians are 'lazy speakers' and admitted she struggled to understand the lingo during a previous visit to Sydney. (Pictured with husband Peter on January 10, 2016, in Beverly Hills)

Conan said he visited Sydney in 2000 for the Olympics and 'loved the people' but was shocked by how different the culture was, adding that all the men are 'ripped'.

Michelle said: 'It's the only country, that and England, where you can go to lunch and its okay to drink a bottle of wine and then go back to [work].'

'Maybe I will raise my kids there!' she added. 

Michelle and Peter met in the year 2000 and married in Sydney in 2005 

Many Aussies said these stereotypes weren't accurate when the interview was reposted on Conan's YouTube channel this week.

'Americans are so isolated in their country, they seem to fear foreign cultures that are even slightly different and it's sad,' one person wrote.

'As an Aussie I can vouch we do love to keep fit and active, but we certainly don't drink a bottle of wine at lunch... that's instant dismissal from your job!' another said.

'Also she's spot on about our slang, we don't mind shortening words and using nicknames. Also most blokes don't mind smashing 30 pints after a day at the beach or whatever. Plus we still ride kangaroos to school/work.' 

One Aussie commented: 'Okay... bottle of wine and returning to work? Suppose it depends on your job, but from an Australian here that's news to me! I guess I can start drinking more now!'

Michelle and Peter met in the year 2000 and married in Sydney in 2005. They share two children, daughter Willow Katherine, 11, and son Tommy Francis, six.

They share two children, daughter Willow Katherine, 11, and son Tommy Francis, six