Ultimate Guide To Australian Slang (a little difficult to understand)

Arj Barker, an American comedian, once devised an experiment to put the Australian vernacular to the test. Suspicious of what he assumed were made-up words sprinkled into Aussie conversation for his benefit, he decided to give it a shot himself. One day, a store employee approached him and asked if he needed any assistance. ‘No thanks, I’m just having a little squidjerididge,’ Arj said, looking him in the eyes. ‘No problem mate, let me know if you need anything,’ said the salesman.

Table of Contents

While 99% of the country does not say things like ‘throw another shrimp on the barbie!’ or ‘you little rippa!’, Aussies do abbreviate certain words, throw in the odd historical colloquialism, and have unique mannerisms and an odd sense of humour, all of which can make them a little difficult to understand.

So, for those looking to learn this unique lingo, Intrepid has put together our own (very unofficial) guide to speaking Australian (note: not all of these phrases are in common use, and vernacular varies by state, but it’s worth being prepared all the same).

G’day

A simple one to begin with. This is a fairly common greeting, at least in Australia’s more rural areas. It’s simply an abbreviation for the old English phrase ‘Good day’. It’s worth noting that some Australians may be taken aback if you try to reciprocate this one as a foreigner. If you’re feeling awkward, respond with ‘Hi, how’s it going mate?’ and hope for the best.

Fair dinkum

This one is a relic from the days of the gold rush. In general, this is used in conversation to mean something legal, fair, and above board. It derives from the gold fields of Victoria in the nineteenth century, where prospectors used the Chinese dialectic phrase ‘din gum’ to mean a weight of gold that was on the level, or true gold.

Abbreviations

Certain words are frequently abbreviated in Australia. It’s one of the vernacular’s distinguishing features. However, if you are not expecting it, it can catch you off guard. Here are a few examples of common ones: uni (university), arvo (afternoon), smoko (smoke/snack break), bikkie (biscuit), tellie (television), footy (football).

Bloody

It may sound bad, but it is simply used for emphasis. This is quite low on the scale of swearing in Australia. If something is ‘bloody good,’ it is very good; if something is ‘bloody hot,’ it is very hot (you get the idea). Use liberally and frequently, especially if the weather is hot.

Buckley’s chance

Buckley’s is frequently shortened to just ‘buckley’s,’ as in the phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s’. This essentially means that you have no chance in hell. There’s some debate about where this phrase comes from, but most believe it comes from convict William Buckley, who escaped capture in 1803 and lived among the Wathawurung people for 32 years, rumor has it he forgot how to speak English.

Budgie smugglers

Essentially, a speedo or small bathing suit. Often used to refer to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who insists on wearing them all the time. We hope no etymology is required here.

Daggy

An adjective that describes something that is uncool, awkward, or a little dated. It can also be used as a noun, as in ‘he’s a bit of a jerk’. It’s not a bad word, and it can even be a term of endearment. In typical Aussie fashion, its origins have little to do with its actual use (Google it for yourself).

Bogan

Someone who is uneducated or uneducated, even if they have some money. In general, a bit of a letdown. It’s the equivalent of a ‘chav’ in the UK or a’redneck’ in the US.

Beer

Like the Inuits, Australians have words for beer. Different glasses and measurements are referred to differently depending on where you are in the country. This can be so localized that asking for the wrong drink in the wrong state can cause the bartender some serious confusion. Here’s our tried-and-true guide:

Shetland

In Melbourne, this is known as a ‘foursie’. This is the world’s tiniest glass of beer. You should not order it.

Volume: 115 mL (4 fl oz)

VIC and TAS are the states involved.

Pony

Another tiny beer that will almost certainly be mocked. It’s useful if you want to make the pint next to it appear larger.

140ml bottle (5 fl oz)

NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, and WA are the states involved.

Pot

A pot is a standard glass of beer across the country, representing about half a pint. The name, on the other hand, varies. It’s called a’middy’ in Sydney and Perth, a ‘half-pint’ in Canberra, a ‘handle’ in Darwin, and a’schooner’ in Adelaide.

285ml bottle (10 fl oz)

Everywhere in the United States

Schooner

The difference between a pint and a pot. A good afternoon beer for catching up with friends. Except in Adelaide, where it’s probably called a pint, it’s called a schooner.

Volume: 425 mL (15 fl oz)

States: All except Washington

Pint

A typical pint. There are no tricks here, except in Adelaide, where it is known as an Imperial Pint. Nobody understands why.

570ml volume (20 fl oz)

Everywhere in the United States

Locations in Australian Slang (A-Z)

Bowlo is an abbreviation for lawn bowls.

Brisbane – Brisvegas

Brizzie – Brisbane Church City – Adelaide

Perth – the City of Lights

Ekka – Brisbane’s annual exhibition show

Footy refers to any football game (soccer, rugby, rugby league, or even Aussie rules AFL!)

Freo – Fremantle

The Garden State – Victoria

McDonalds – Maccas (even Maccas uses this one now!)

Servo – Petrol service station ‘Melbs – Melbourne RSL – Returned Services League

Straya – Australia.

Sydneysider is someone who lives in Sydney.

Tassie is an abbreviation for Tasmania.

The Alice – Alice Springs, Northern Territory

Sydney Harbour Bridge – Coathanger

The ‘G – The Melbourne Cricket Ground or MCG

Cricket Ground ‘Gabba – Woolongabba’

Wollongong, New South Wales – The Gong

Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock) in the Northern Territory

The Toaster is an apartment and hotel complex located near the Sydney Opera House.

Top End – Northern Territory’s northernmost region

Uni – Short for University. Yes, the Australians will shorten anything!

Apartment unit

Woolworths supermarkets are known as Woolies.

Australian Slang – Times (A-Z)

Afternoon – Arvo

Brekky – breakfast

Brunch – A breakfast served later in the day, closer to lunch.

Chrissie – Merry Christmas

Fortnight – 2 weeks or 14 days

Hols – vacation

Smoko – cigarette break

Expressions in Australian Slang (A-Z)

Are your ears painted on? – someone who does not pay attention

Av a go is an abbreviation for “have a go,” which means “try something.”

Bingle was involved in a minor car accident.

Bloody oath – meaning that’s the truth

Blue – to have an argument

Bring a plate – bring a food plate to the party.

Can’t be bothered – I could do that, but I don’t think I will because I don’t want to make an effort.

Carked it – died

Continuing – throwing a temper tantrum

Cheers – to toast something with a beverage and also to say thank you Choc a bloc – someone who is overstuffed from eating too much

Chockers – the same as before!

Clear as mud – something complicated explained but still not understood

Cooee is a loud cry heard in the bush.

Cool as – the as at the end emphasizes how cool it is!

Conversation (convo)

Crack the whip – telling someone to hurry up!

Crook – ill

D&M – a deep and meaningful discussion

Daggy is a term used to describe someone who is not cool (can also be used affectionately)

Deadest – accurate

Deadly – truly amazing

Devo – devastated

Do the Harry Holt-Bolt and leave the party without making an announcement. Harry Holt was an Australian Prime Minister who vanished off the coast of Victoria in 1967.

Dodgy – when something is not right

Dodgy as – when something is seriously wrong

Dogs breakfast – a complete mess

Easy as – very easy

Exy is pricey.

Fair dinkum – true or genuine

Fair enough – Ok then

Feral – a wild animal, but also used to describe something bad.

All out – extremely busy

Fully sick – really cool

G’day – hello

Give me a bell – call me on the telephone

Go off like a frog in a sock and go insane.

To go troppo is to lose the plot or to go insane.

Go with the flow – see how it goes, decide later

Gobsmacked – shocked or surprised

Going off – irrationally angry to the point of yelling

Gone walkabout – someone who has wandered away (repurposed from indigenous heritage)

Good on you – well done or good for you (can be abbreviated “on you”)

Hard yakka – difficult work

Have a captain cook – have a look

Have a crack – try something new

Heaps – many or a lot, as in “I miss you heaps.”

Hectic is cool and good.

Hit the frog and toad – leaving a trail of destruction

Hooroo – farewell

How are things going for you?

When you’re more than tired, you’re knackered. Pure exhaustion.

Iffy is a little risky.

It’s cactus – something is broken

Lipstick – Lippy

Mad as a cut snake – crazy

Mates rates – significant savings by knowing someone

Mucking around- When you are not focused on the task and you know you will get into trouble, we were just mucking around!

My Shout – When you offer to pay for the bill or the next round of drinks.

No worries – when you hear this, you know everything will be fine.

Not fussed – don’t care

One for the road – last drink

Pash – kiss

Play it by ear, see how it goes, and make a decision later.

Pozzie – excellent placement

Rev up – when someone purposefully teases some one (like revving up a motor)

Righto – ok then

Rip off – when someone charges an exorbitant price for something.

Ripper – fantastic!

Ripsnorter is having a great time.

Rug up – dress warmnly

She’ll be right – It’s fine

Skite – to brag or boast

Snowed inunder – when you have too much on your plate.

Spit the dummy – when an adult has a tantrum

Squiz – take a look

Sticky Beak – take a look

Stoked – when you are extremely pleased with something

Struth or Strewth – truth, derived from “God’s truth”

Stuffed – tired or stuffed

Stunned mullet – shocked

Sus it out – This expression is used when someone discovers something and informs you about it.

Sweet – good

Sweet as – amazing, the ‘as’ at the end emphasizes

Ta – thank you

Taking a sickie – messaging work you are unwell (when you are not)

Tee-up – to arrange a meeting, as in “I’ll tee it up.”

Thingy-ma-jig – a word used when you can’t remember the name of an object.

Too right – a term of agreement

Try hard – a negative term for someone who goes out of their way to please others.

U-ey – u-turn when driving

Veg out – relax

Yeah, nah – means the person heard you say ‘yeah,’ but they disagree with what you said (confusing!).

What’s the john dory – what’s the story

Within cooee – within shouting distance

Wonky – something is shaky or wobbly.

Woop woop – out in the middle of nowhere

You’ve got buckleys- no way! (Historically, William Buckley had no chance of bringing settlers and indigenous peoples together.)

Zilch – nothing, nada, zero

Food Slang in Australia (A-Z)

Avo – avocado

BLT stands for bacon lettuce tomato sandwich.

Bubbles – sparkling wine

Chewie is a chewing gum.

Choccy biccy – chocolate biscuit

Chook means “chicken.”

Cuppa – tea cup

Dog’s eye – meat pie

Flat white – coffee with milk

Icy pole is a flavor-infused ice treat on a stick.

Jaffle – toasted sandwich

Lamington is a small square of chocolate and coconut flakes-covered sponge cake.

Lollies are sweets.

Mushies are a type of mushroom.

Pavlova is a meringue dessert with cream and toppings that originated in either Australia or New Zealand.

Roadie – someone who drinks while driving.

Sambo is a sandwich.

Sanga is the same as sambo.

Schnitzel, a breaded chicken or veal fillet

Slab – 24 beer cans

Snag – sausage

Spaghetti bolognaise – Spag bol

Stubby – a small beer bottle

Tinnie – a beer can

Tucker – food

Vino means “wine.”

Items or things in Australian slang (A-Z)

Barbie is having a barbecue (BBQ)

Bathers are swimsuits.

Boardies are swimsuits.

Bog – toilet

Bog roll – toilet paper

Box seat – best seat

Brollie is an umbrella.

Budgie Smugglers is a male swimwear brand (speedos)

Ciggie is an abbreviation for “cigarette.”

Durry – same as ciggie

Esky – An ice chest used to keep drinks and food cool at a barbecue.

Facey is an abbreviation for Facebook.

Grey nurse – grey $100 Australian note

Jocks are men’s underwear.

Lobster – red Australian $20 note

Pineapple – Australian $50 note in yellow

Prezzie – present

Rego – vehicle registration

Sunglasses are sunglasses.

Telly stands for television.

Thongs are flip-flops.

Togs are swimsuits.

Tracksuit pants are known as trackie daks.

Uggies are sheepskin boots that keep your feet warm.

Undies are underwear.

Animals and insects are examples of Aussie slang (A-Z)

Blowie – fly away

Chicken is referred to as a chook.

Cockie – Cockatoo, a native Australian bird with a sulphur (yellow) crest.

Mozzie is an abbreviation for mosquito.

Roo – Kangaroo

People in Australian Slang (A-Z)

Ambo is an ambulance officer.

Bloke is a male person.

Bludger – someone who is sluggish

Bogan is a socially unacceptable or impolite person.

Copper is a police officer.

Firefighters (Firies)

Garbo is a trash collector.

Greenie – a conservationist or environmentalist

Journo – journalist

Mates are friends.

Muso (musician)

Pollie is a politician.

Postie – a mail carrier

Relo – family

Roomie – roommate

Secos are security personnel.

Sook is a person who enjoys crying over things.

A surfie is a surfer.

Vego means “vegetarian.”

Westie – someone from Western Sydney

Aussie Slang – Feelings (A-Z)

Angry – Aggro

Awks are short for “awkward.”

Crikey, I’m surprised.

Devo – devastated

Full on – intense

Jelly – envious

Uni slang in Australia (A-Z)

Biro is a pen (brand name)

Doco refers to a documentary program.

Tutes are smaller, less formal lessons.

There you have it. Scape’s ultimate guide to Australian slang. Why not try dropping a few Aussie slang words into your next conversation with your roommate?

Topic: Ultimate Guide To Australian Slang (a little difficult to understand)

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