Learn the local 'foreign tongue'

During your time abroad, you’ll hear your fair share of Aussie Slang.To help you understand our ‘foreign tongue’, we have compiled a list of frequently used slang words and phrases! Learn these and you’ll feel at home on your first day “down under”.

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Aussie Slang

Aussie slang incorporates many terms that we consider to be unique to our country. Some words are derived from the indigenous Aboriginal languages, mainly as names for flora and fauna (for example, dingo & kangaroo). One of the most well-known of the Aussie slang words is ‘outback’ which means “remote, sparsely-populated areas”.

Take a look over the list, you might be surprised how much slang you already know!

SLANG DEFINITION
Ace! Excellent! Very good!
Aussie (Pronounced Ozzie) Australian
Arvo Afternoon
Beaut Great, fantastic
Barbie Barbecue (noun)
Bloke Man, guy
Bloody oath! That’s certainly true
Blowie Blow fly
Bottle-o Liquor shop
Budgie smugglers Men’s bathing costume
Coldie A beer
Cozzie Swimwear
Dinkum, fair dinkum True, real, genuine – “I’m a dinkum Aussie”; “is he fair Dinkum?”
Dag A funny person, nerd, goof
Down Under Australia
Dunny Outside lavatory
Esky Large insulated food/drink container for picnics, Barbecues etc.
Fair dinkum True, genuine
Flat out like a lizard drinking Flat out, busy
Footy Australian Rules football
G’Day Hello!
Galah Fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same Name because of its antics and the noise it makes
Good onya Good for you, well done
Grog Liquor, beer – “bring your own grog”
Grouse (adj.) Great, terrific, very good
Hoon Hooligan
Hooroo Goodbye
Hit the Turps To go on a drinking binge
Joey Baby kangaroo
Kelpie Australian sheepdog
Kindie Kindergarten
Longneck 750ml bootle of beer
Mozzie Mosquito
No drama Same as ‘No worries’
Ocker An unsophisticated person
Outback Remote sparsely-populated area (Interior of Australia)
Oz Australia
Porky Lie, untruth
Ripper Great, fantastic – “it was a ripper party”
Reckon You bet! Absolutely!
Rellie or Relo Family relative
Roadie A beer you buy to take away with you
She’ll be right It’ll be all right
Spewin’ Very angry
Smoko Smoke or coffee break
Snag A sausage
Sheila A woman
Stubby A 375ml beer bottle
Sunnies Sunglasses
Tallie 750ml bottle of beer
Veg out Relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)
Vejjo Vegetarian
Walkabout A walk in the Outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time
Wog Flu or trivial illness
Woop Woop Invented name for any small unimportant town – “he lives in Woop Woop”
Yabber Talk (a lot)
Yakka Work (noun)

LIKE TO GET OUTSIDE?

Australia is packed full of amazing scenic locations & hidden gems. If you have a thirst for adventure, take a look at our list of things to do whilst abroad!