Australian slang
From Wikitravel
This article is a travel topic.
Australian slang is informal language used in Australia.
This guide should be viewed as an informal and fun introduction to some Australian idiosyncrasies, rather than a guide on how to communicate.
Increasing globalisation and a move away from rural living has seen Australian English adopt a lot of American terms while at the same time romanticising words commonly associated with the bush. Australians mostly view their slang as being uniquely Australian and an integral part of their culture. Judging by the amount of Australian slang books available on the shelves, it remains of interest to travellers too.
Many parts of Australian slang have their origins outside Australia, particularly in England and Ireland. Don't be surprised if many terms seem familiar. However, don't assume that similar slang expressions have the same meaning to Australians as they might in other countries. An attempt to use some Australian slang will likely be viewed as an attempt to mock, rather than as a genuine attempt to speak the local dialect. It's better to use the guide to interpret Steve Irwin's TV shows.
English speaking travellers are best advised just to speak clearly, as most Australians are used to a variety of accents. However, it can never hurt to say "G'day, How are ya goin'" to an Aussie. You can also ask for your chips to take-away, rather than fries to go.
[edit] Greetings
- G'day
- Hello.
- How are ya goin'
- How are you?
- Not bad mate
- Fine, thank you.
- Cheers mate
- Thank you.
- No worries / No drama
- You're welcome (in response to thank you)
- Oi.
- Excuse me (may be regarded as uncouth by some people)
- You're right
- That is okay (in response to sorry)
- See ya later
- Goodbye
- Hoo roo
- Goodbye
- Take it easy
- Goodbye
[edit] Time
- Yonks
- commonly used to convey an exaggerated view of time, eg "I haven't seen you in yonks".
[edit] Colours
- Bluey
- Red hair. Virgin planes are red in Australia and are therefore Virgin Blue.
- Ranga
- Red haired
[edit] Cursing
- Bugger
- Damn - a common expression of disappointment, not offensive to most.
- Drongo
- an idiot or a fool
[edit] Eating and Drinking
- Grab a feed
- Get something to eat
- Middy
- A small glass (usually for beer) used in New South Wales.
- Pot
- A small glass (usually for beer) used elsewhere.
- Schooner
- A large glass (usually for beer) used in New South Wales.
- Take-away
- Fast food also used instead of "to go" when ordering food.
- Pissed
- drunk (as opposed to annoyed)
- Scab
- To scrounge off a friend, as in scab a feed.
- Bludge
- To be lazy, or to scab, as in bludge a feed.
[edit] People
- Mate
- Anybody at all, only commonly used by males - especially when you forget their name.
- Aussie
- Australian - prounounced Ozzy.
- Youse
- Plural of you - pronounced Yooz. Only used by "bogans" (see below).
- Bastard
- Male friend.
- Complete bastard
- Good male friend.
- Bogan
- An uneducated person; (similar to the British 'chav') favoured expression outside of Sydney to describe Westies.
- Westie
- A person from the western suburbs of Sydney or Melbourne.
- Brickie
- Bricklayer
- Sparkie
- Electrician
- Chippie
- Carpenter
- Bikie
- Biker
- Smackie
- Smackhead, as in, a heroin addict
- Ocker
- A crude, uncultured Aussie. Often applied to Queenslanders.
[edit] Geography
- The bush
- areas outside of major cities and towns.
- The outback
- the deserts of inland Australia
- Bushfire
- wildfire
[edit] Expressions
- I reckon
- I agree!
- Too right!
- I agree!
- Bloody oath!
- I agree!
- Full on
- Comprehensive, heavy going, intimidating.
- Take the piss
- Make fun of someone or to trick them.
- To piss in someone's pocket
- To be servile or overly complimentary to someone.
- Smoko
- Morning tea/A break during the working day to smoke a cigarette.
- To go berko
- To go crazy.
- To be spewing
- To vomit/ to be upset about something.
- Bin
- Trash Can
- Chrissy
- Christmas.
- Prezzie
- Present.
- Dead set
- True.
[edit] Transport
- Ute
- A utility vehicle with a large tray on the back for equipment, often used on farms. Similar to a vehicle known as a pickup truck in American English, but more often a (before- or after-market) modification of a car chassis rather than being based on that of a light truck.
- Boot
- Trunk Of Car.
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