At first, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, this word meant that something was tough or dangerous. Id hate to think that people were trying to conceal slugs in their cossies when someone conceived the name sluggos. If one were to follow that logic theyd be called pelican smugglers. So whether youre headed Down Under for a quick getaway in the sun, or planning to move there permanently, weve got you covered with this list of 125 common Australian slang words that will have even the locals fooled! Find yourself hungry in Australia? Never ever in me life mate have I heard smoko called mornos. Good onya. Some clown went walkabout out woop woop and got eaten by a wombat! A real aussie would know that we laugh at people who wear any kind of footwear on the beach (yes this includes thongs). Or You for real? A milk bar is a local general store in Australia, selling everything from newspapers toyou guessed itmilkshakes. what about flip-flopsthere thongs because of how they sound when you walk. Answer (1 of 8): "Cool" would probably nail it. Julia Robinson, editor of the Australian National Dictionary Centre, says while it's chiefly a US term, it's also used in Australia, particularly in surfing contexts. And yep heard most of these. Furphy is the name for false or unconvincing rumors in Australia. Drop-kick an idiot. Mallies (pronounced mawlies)/= Old Codgers with nothing better to do than hang around shopping malls in groups together, ogling women going about their shopping, whilst waiting for the Supermarket to call them up to make a home delivery. Preferably amusing? Final suggestion would be; the bees knees, Remember my Pop used to use Billy goat for throat also, rifle range in the sky rocket for change in the pocket, cows hoof, which is very (cant say) inappropriate nowadays! Hard to remember appropriate feminine slang If the person is Nerdy or Geeky we say either, a dag is, well, normally a person who looks like a dag! Mongrel can also refer to an erection. To chuck a yewy means to perform a u-turn in Australian slang. You might be gobsmacked (aka astonished) at the size of the spiders in Australia! But if you are meaning that something rather than someone is excellent or top notch you could try; "the ducks nuts". Up the duff = Pregnant Its best to step away! I love to sunbake for hours on the beach while my friends surf.. You right mate? Bloody Oath, budgie smugglers really is just guys wearing speedos When people used to smuggle birds they would stuff them into tight underpants this is where it comes from ;P. Really? As if - A shorted phrase for "as if it were true" or "as if you were right. Some of these are also used in various other English speaking countries as well with the same or very similar meanings. 4. South Africans would understand a lot of these, our own slang / colloquialisms are similar. ! Bloody funny accent that was! . Some are just Barry McKenzie joke slang, but not in real use. Groovy: A good idea. Context of going to the gym: Hey mate, are you going for a flog? The goon was originally a flagon. A sport team can be flogged, beaten or loses a game by a large difference in score. A Lappy could be a laptop computer, but the more common meaning would be Lap dance from a stripper. Chunder = Vomit I think you are right. Ive was in Australia about 10 years ago and bought a sticker sheets called Aussie Lingo! Airhead: A stupid or unaware person; a moron or dim-wit. VIC) footy = AFL (rules), others (e.g. A few more I have come across I have come accross over the years. The journos struggled to balance their broadcasts between the news about the UFO and the news on the escaped spy.. Would you pick up a packet of biccies from the milk bar on your way home please?. fair dinkum really? Be sure you dont forget your port if youre headed to Australiathat is, your suitcase! Under the pump = feeling stressed or on a deadline. You may encounter a few mozzies while youre in Australiamozzie means mosquito! Give me 5= give me a high five You fuckin wit(h) me? The moulded type are usually factory produced and more uniform in size and shape. Gander Having a Squizz. A fairground staple, this delicacy is known outside of Australia as cotton candy. Maccas is the only way everybody over here calls Mac Donalds. And only something Ive heard in Australia. The word stonkered encapsulates exhaustion, confusion and defeat for Australians. The computers just carked it. which basically means6 of one, half a dozen of anotherOR same thing different daysame crap different day. Its so hot outside, lets sleep in the sleepout tonight?. Someone who is a bit wacky. Randomly shout out "Schwing!" If they stare at you like you're having a mental collapse, they're probably one of those darned Millennials. And some of them are certainly not used any more, or you made the buggers up. If someone gives you the drum, theyre giving you the inside scoop, information or a tip-off. Are you having a go. At other times theyll just add a different vowel instead of the o. I begin by saying that I live in NSW and have never ordered a potato cake but always order scollops,.. which turns out to be an archaic word, which differentiates it from the sea dwelling scallop.Adding potato at the front seems to be an excessive use of words and contrary to the Aussie vernacular. ? PC. Usually fairly cheap. When your time in Australia comes to a close, be sure to tell everyone hooroo! meaning goodbye. Hi Stephen, thanks for your input. Really enjoyed the list. 1. Not sure what is a bobby, as we call a barbecue a barbie. Established in 1894 by Simeon Simpson, DAKS produces luxury clothing and accessories for both men and women. To Skull a beer is derived from the the Scandinavian word Skol, like cheers or Heres to you, a toast when you drink with somone. For daily English language lessons and tips, like our Learn English Facebook page, follow us on Twitter, or subscribe to our YouTube channel. Whatever its name, we all need a word for that thing whose name you just cant remember. this is not music In Aussie slang it refers to casual wear trousers. Salmon $20 note, Footy is sometimes reduced to Foody in some parts of Australia Footy = Foody, You forgot to mention CAPSICUM red pepper . Political correctness. Plate, bring a : Instruction to bring a plate of food to a party. Some of them used to be, but would never be pronounced with a straight face by anyone under 30. Make sure you visit the Outback while youre in Australia.. No Wozza/No Woz No worries (Not specific to Melbourne) Despite the risk of being called a dobber, he dobbed the spy in for sharing Australian secrets to foreign powers.. Bundy = bundeberg rum, Your email address will not be published. I did like, in particular, the word Dunny. A prezzie means a present in Australian slang. a little longer?. If someones got the wobbly boot on in Australia then theyre drunk. The 1980s were Australia's golden age: an era of big hair and big personalities in sport and politics. Daks are an integral piece of clothing, otherwise known as pants! If youre sunbathing in Australia you should be calling it sunbaking istead! Or for the Aussie slang words you coulda putt in If youre out in the bush youre away from civilization and in the countryside. Dogs eye wiv Dead Orse/=Beef/Meat Pie with Tomarda sauce See Australian colloquialisms. Always thought a goon was another word for flagon (large bottle of wine). heavy or full bag According to Green's Dictionary of Slang, this worda blend of bold and audacious meaning "excellent, wonderful, very enjoyable"was coined in the 19th century but found new life in the 1970s thanks to CB radio, where it was used to reference a strong incoming signal. Taking the piss, is a big one but is that same in UK to like it means youre making fun or making someone believe nonsense. Shes a ledge of a teacher. The meaning of the phrase? Bag your face. Be cautious using it sarcastically though or you may start a fight! Bad: Very good, excellent; cool, awesome. Refers to person that is intellectually challenged. The '80s were a time when everything was bigger and brighter: Hair was high; fashion was loud; even the slang was outrageous or should we say, bodacious? You cant be serious! Were so glad you managed to visit for Chrissie.. Are you having a go means are you giving your best effort to a task be it at work or on a sporting field. To fossick is to search for something or to rummage about in search of a doovalacky. I was at the bar and my friend says its my shout mate. American English Australian Meaning to look for something, Extremely versatile word for your vocab. Some of the slang terms are also only used in certain parts of Australia and not others. No wuckas the full explanation is that its short for no wuckin furries, which is a humorous and slightly more polite way to say no f*ckin worries. Stoked = really happy that that happed or really pumped We've compiled a list of 40 of the most common Australian slang terms so you can become an expert in speaking Aussie. When I found the boys in the kitchen eating the cake Id just baked for our wedding, I gave them an earbashing., You may know this term as expensive, but Australians prefer the shorter exy., Buying dinner for the whole office was exy.. Gday mate. It sounds like youve embraced some of the Australian way of language, which my Austrian father in law did (came with family of 5 in 1964) whilst working all over country Oz! spliff Bill: Shut up Ted! Australians today are mixed races more so than yesteryear so there is a lot of slang that was not around in earlier years. Well because snags, i.e. A Yank might think theyre all from Oz, but many are from the UK. Bonza/=Really good, even brilliant. If you need to get going and youre prone to a bit of poetry, you may say that you have to hit the frog and toadaka the road. ? Hey. A zac was a sixpence, a trey a threepence and a deener was a shilling coin. Chaddy Chadstone Shopping Centre 125 Common Australian Slang Words, Terms and Phrases 1. Dandy Suburb of Dandenong Australian accent & pronunciation: newcomers to Stralia need to read this . Who cares about yer hands mate. pushie or pushbike Australian slang comes from a mixture of migrants or convicts that cam came from Irland Scotland England also mixed American sayings. Sanger sandwich. Speaking as an Aussie I wonder if the Author is Australian cos most of this is wrong. Down the gurgler = down the plug hole / lost To make a quid is to earn a living in Australian slang. the British used this as well. Barrack- to follow/root for a particular sports team. Stories traded over a Furphy water tank and if it sounds outrageous or exaggerated, came to be known as a furphy. People do say Facey I have heard it and use it, If you are getting a demi to eat what is it, Snakes Hiss = a piss (be right back gotta take a snakes hiss), Jeez u bloody mongrels complaining like sheilas.have a coldie and relax .fair dinkum i reckon its bloody oath, Mate. (19) $3.00. I like it, especially bcoz it has contained the valuable guide.This is something really helpful. Piece of piss : easy task. A word a male would use, something not as crude as say, Shes the dogs boxxocks at her job. Spiffy is an Aussies way of saying that something is excellent. The most important meal of the day, brekkie means breakfast. Monash Carpark Monash Freeway (Especially during peak hour) Other phrases Ive heard. To go bushwalking is to go hiking. Cant bleeve it. WRONG!! A real oldie and reserved for use among mates: Gday Hooks I cant wait until Im at uni and I can focus on studying Biology.. If youre lucky while traveling in Australia, youll see a joeya baby kangaroo! Wanka what a wanka meaning idiot In Aussie slang it refers to casual wear trousers. There was a mob watching the mob jump down the road., Did you bring the moolah so we can purchase our tickets?. All our resources are free and mapped to the Australian Curriculum. Yank A True Blue sheila looked at her underwear admiringly and asked: Dry as a dead dingos donger. To cark is used more for smaller things, or components of a larger object. We tried to sit outside last night and enjoy the sunset, but I couldnt stop performing the Aussie salute.. If something is dinkum in Australia that means its true or genuine. I live in rural Australia and I havent heard half of that stuff! Chrissie = Christmas Rego - registration of a vehicle. Drop the aitch off of any word beginin with a H/h; Horse= Orse; House= Owse etc I think the video below perfectly illustrates this unique way of speaking Australian! The 1990s saw the craze of a show called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. James Clarke, Im Aussie, born and raised. Nong It means difficult, dangerous or challenging. Few more I use Starkers To be naked; wearing your birthday suit Flogged or flogging came from early convict times, where men and women were flogged as punishment. A few cans short of a six pack (beer). Hairy Eyeball: Somebody looking at you suspiciously or . These arent even proper Australian slangs, if Im not mistaken no one here in Australia calls Facebook facey. NSW) footy = NRL (league). That and Hungry Jacks for Burger King. Interesting how everyone connects the word mate to Aussies favorite word call for others! Penny dropped- when it hit me. Im trying to find a real vernacular aussie word meaning good at . Good crack similar to Scots Irish and English just a bit more childish. In 1989, it was featured . To give something a burl is to give something a go in Australia. Old fart = old person or elderly Cuppa tea or coffee. Personal Computer (early 80s) 2. Flanno flannelette shirt, Yakka is under Hard Yakka (no. If you need to get rid of something (or someone) in Australia, you can say you need to give them the flick. Gday mate! It means are you starting a fight or argument after saying something insulting or youre telling someone off I enjoyed this article. Barbie - Barbecue Bathers - Swimsuit Beauty! Bush telly "Bush. Top Tip! Strewth = Exclamation of suprise It means excellent. For example, you walk in to a pub, bar man says howyagoin you reply Im as dry as a dead dingos donga. Me and my friend were looking through these and I screamed: WHAT THE HELL DOES _______ MEAN! A lot, Most of this list is horribly inaccurate, either phrases that Ive never heard an Aussie say (living in a ski town for over 15 years you meet a lot!). Dodgey a bit rough. Voc aparecem entender tanto aproximadamente , como voc escreveu Evo - an evening. Sinto-me que voc pode com algumas por cento I have to do a project for school about Australia, and this helps a lot! Great. Many Australians single out a famous TV commercial done by Paul Hogan in the 1980s as part of a campaign to get American tourists to visit as the moment Americanisms began to get the better of the. Full as a goog eaten so much that I couldnt eat any more. Shell be apples. That was pivotal for bringing the term to the mainstream public. Boondy: chuck a boondy, throw a dirt bomb/ compacted dirt shaped like a rock that dissipates upon impact Fuelie or Fuely/=Petrol Bowser. Bush telly is what youll want to call the campfire when youre camping in the Outback. Lippy is the perfect accessory for a fancy night out when visiting Australiait means lipstick! Rubber=eraser. She knocked the new car model, saying she didnt see what was wrong with the old one.. Its your bog standard refrigerator, nothing fancy.. ("Schwing," by the way, is '90s slang for excitement, first coined by Mike Myers in his "Wayne's . How did you not see a charter boat? If your facial appearance leaves something to be desired, perhaps you'd feel more comfortable with a brown paper bag on your head. If something is grouse in Australian slang, that means its very good. Doing a Bradbury Wining by virtue of everybody in front of you falling over You gotta know the context! Last week on Facey I saw an article stating that the UFO crash was real.. As an aside, it would be fair to say, a majority of blokes down the beach would usually Boardies or Boardshorts, unless they were in some type of event like lifesaving or swimming. It can mean a group of people (not necessarily a nefarious group!) goon is just a cheap and nasty wine. Freakin hell expression of disgust. In the ACT, potato cakes are more commonly referred to as scallopsa term more commonly used in the surrounding area. A classic dinner around the world, spag bol is Australias way of saying spaghetti bolognese. Like I was rooting around in the draw Rooted also means the thing is finished does no0t work anymore The sex term came out in the 60s. Below, we've compiled some of the more fun and interesting slang coinages. Ute in Strine is a truck or SUV, not to be confused with utes (plural) from My Cousin Vinnie, where it refers to youths, or as Vinne explains to the judge, youthes.. A Barry Crocker having a shocker. Number 9 isnt correct, we call them togs, not bathers or swimsuits lol. How about like a bull at a gate a bit wild, out of control, rushed. Cactus pooptus = dead or about to die A sleepout is a popular feature of Australian architecture, its a verandah which has been converted into a bedroomuseful in the heat! Pakky Suburb of Pakenham When something is cactus in Australia, it means its ceased to work or is dead. We rocked up at Dons party straight after work.. He filled the billy with water and waited impatiently for it to boil.. Have a bat Masturbate (Not sure if Aussie wide or Melbourne only) But if they laugh or cringe, in some way acknowledging the reference, you've identified a bona fide '90s kid. Walkers and Turners/ Unemployed on the hunt for a job, walk around with nothing worthwhile to do, walking down one Street, and turn down the next. avocado-avo. Like many other ling in the 80s, it originated in surfer slang. The Australian slang word crook covers all manner of things that are bad, and can refer to something thats unpleasant, unsatisfactory, tough, illegal, or injured. It describes what geologists call an Oxbow Lake (look it up). Fair Dinkum = Honesty!, Really? Triffick. In New South Wales, they are usually referred to as scallops or potato scallops, however the term potato cakes is used across the southern states of Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and known in South Australia as a potato fritter. As in hey brudda we going unda dbridge with a goon of sherry. Cow inna cupboard/=Can of powdered milk, canned evaporated/condensed milk, cartons of UHT/Long Life milk that can be stored long term in a cupboard/pantry long term without the need to be refrigerated. Scallop in Victoria its a scallop, in NSW a potato cake. 1980s Slang Terms and Phrase List A Airhead - Someone who lacks common sense and unable to grasp simple concepts. Everyone uses the word tinnie for a can of beer. Putting the blacksmith on ya. crack a fat If youre late for curfew one more night this week Ill be spewin!. A goog being an egg. For example howyagoin mate!. Its none of your bizzo what I was doing at midnight in the graveyard.. If an Australian is angry, you could say that theyre mad as a cut snake, although you may want to be careful who hears you! ! Friend Fair crack of the whip. paninaro. I use a lot of these and I have my own list too. Agree that rooted can mean tiredness. While we wont list this as one of the top 10 things to do in Australia, if youre way out in the bush and trying to have a relaxing evening you may end up doing just thisaka drinking alone. I agree I barrock for that team. The tune is about a proud Aussie man who travels the world, interacting with people - to Men At Work, this song is about . ! Students will write a letter to a friend using Australian slang about what they did over a two week vacation in Australia. Dogs breakfast This is an important one to know. Pozzy : position. mr-sir If its their shout theyre going to be paying. Im 70. Think rhymes for a secondthats the key to understanding what Australians mean when they use this phrase to denote taking a look. Yeah, tight as in right outta this list of 25+ bitchin' alternatives 80s slang for cool! Hey just a couple more to add to your list you have some rippers on there Context of someone/thing getting beaten badly: Geez, the Brisbane Lions got flogged again, did you see the game? Shark biscuit kids at the beach. Root -to root is to have sex. What charter boat? It is also incorporated in the idiom of the valley girl way of speaking. Tone is very important with this kind of language its mainly used as banter with a bit of wrestling, It was now it covers all the cheap nasty stuff in the casks and bottles. Woop Woop: middle of nowhere, a long way from a main town Your email address will not be published. Derro/=A derelict remnant of a former man, usually in reference to a homeless drunkard or petrol/glue sniffer As we found out that day in NSW they call it a double or Ill double yah . It would be bonzer to keep the Ocka Slang going! And the more time I spent with all my mates, the more I found myself speaking and thinking both Irish & Australian. Flick the bails lets call it a day I lived in Queensland for a couple years in the 1980s, loved it! Ask your oldies if you can come to the milk bar with me after school.. Before 1966, Australia's money system was based on the British system and the currency denominations were pounds, shillings and pence. Perhaps due to our shared British heritage and hearing these terms on TV. If youre planning a trip to Oz anytime soon, its important to become accustomed to the local lingo. Runners / joggers = sports shoes Mongrel actually means a mixed breed or stray dog. When I tried to leave for work this morning I realized the car was cactus.. On his way to the harbor the spy realized he was being tailed so he gave them the flick.. Another common one to hear at the pub is hes blotto Yeah dont buy that guy another drink hes already had too many! Cactus is used for dead. Huh?! yes one word. Pozzy is short for position in Australian slang. No way, is that the ridgy-didge collector edition? Nice Kate. The patriotic song of Down Under has become an iconic Australian song across the world, topping the music charts in the 1980s in many countries, including Australia, Britain and the US. Bull Dust/=Very fine red dust sand/or a polite way of saying nonsense. Gday love heres a few extra ones for ya Doof doof music a derogatory term for house/hip hop music is another one theyve never heard before. Who knows that the words we call slang today may become part of the regular English someday and may come into writing as well. Muso - a musician. The word bogan is a typically Aussie slang word as well. Tinny as a boat, not sure about that one. Umm, well, baggy clothes, stoner maybe, a troublemaker maybe, just someone who looks very unkept and a bit on the rude/jerk side, You forgot Mate. Copper is actually an old English word for police officer derived from the Latin caper meaning to capture. Kiwi bludgers) footy = rugby (union). (Are) You having a laugh (are ya)? to us shrimp are really small prawns or that you are very short. A vejjo is a vegetarianuseful to know when traveling to Australia. This unique Australian term is used to talk about successful people. He said it was London to a brick that the escaped spy and the UFO were related.. Australians use this phrase to talk about someone whos boasting about themselves, exaggerating their achievements, or displaying their wealth in a showy way. Yeah Nah mate, that isnt what we call dags. Worried that something isnt going to plan? Her boy cousins out in the bush called her a sooky = soft, timid. ? Some of these phrases are still part of the vernacular. Context of someone stealing something: Some flog has flogged the street sign. The 'Ducks nuts' possibly is derived from the British 'Dogs bollocks', another express. Wang Wangaratta Friggen- how to say f&*@%g in front of kids and non sweaters. Gotta got to, have got to Established in 1894 by Simeon Simpson, DAKS produces luxury clothing and accessories for both men and women. Sweatin blood or Hard yakka. Also most of the information is wrong. It really helps me. Righto Righto lets get a move on! Even after 30 years have passed, the 1980s are difficult to distill. | ARELS, Pingback: How to Backpack Australia Like a Pro | Backpacker Travel, Pingback: Incredible Facts That Will Make You Want To Visit Australia Fortune Tracker, Pingback: Incredible Facts That Will Make You Want To Visit Australia - Far and Away Places, Pingback: Tips for Traveling To Australia - Two Traveling Texans, Pingback: Australian Slang / Apelidos Tayane Australia 2019, Pingback: What Every First-Time Tourist To Australia Needs To Know | Sofia in Australia, Pingback: A checklist of UX writing terms for time-poor humans - Laura Luck Hobart UX Writer, Pingback: Driving In Vain. But because of me being in the Air Force and being Stationed with with a lot of guys from the RAF & ROYAL NAVY. Or, as the dictionary says in a prettier way; someone who is intellectually challenged. party hearty/party hardy. The police were known as Bobbys men. ? I shouted to myself as I riffled through the kitchen cupboards.. Down Under - Men At Work. Ya look like you just shoved a whole spoon of Vegemite down ya gob or even why dont ya come around for a shrimp on the barbie mate BTW, I remember it as mad as a cut snake, and grouse is definitely Victorian Heres one I havent seen anyone mention yetSame dog, different leg! Dust Bunnies/balls of fluff that collect, under beds, but especially on newly fitted carpets.