Australian Slang
Aggro - Aggressive
Ankle-biter - Infant
ANZAC - Australian & New
Zealand Army Corps
Arvo - Afternoon
Auntie - The Australian
Broadcasting Corporation or ABC (Channel 2)
Aussie
salute -
Using hand to wave away annoying flies
Back
blocks-
Outer suburbs, beyond the city
Back
o’Bourke-
Middle of Nowhere
Bail- Depart or leave
Bananabender- Person from
Barbie- Barbecue, the backyard barbie, an Australian institution!
Barney- Argument,fight
Barrack- Cheer loudly for your favorite
footy team
Bathers- Swimsuit
Battler- Someone who struggles to
get by, financially, against the odds
Beanie- Woollen
hat
Belt
up- Stop talking!
Betcha- I bet you!
Big
bikkies - Lots of money
Big
smoke - The
city
Bikie - Motorbike rider
Bikkie - Biscuit
Billabong - Waterhole
Billy - Tin used to boil water
for tea, in the bush
Bities - Biting insects
Bloke - Man,guy
Bludger - Lazy person
Blue - Argument, fight
Blue
Heeler -
Term for an Australian Cattle Dog
Boardies- Board shorts (for surfing)
Bonza- Great!
Boofhead- Idiot
Bozo- Idiot
Brekkie- Breakfast
Brumby- A wild horse
Buckley's- No chance!
Bunyip- Mythical Australian creature with a piercing cry
Bush- Outside the city; rural
area
Bush
Telegraph-
'Grapevine', word-of-mouth
Bush
tucker-
Food gathered from nature, in the outback
Bushwalking- Hiking in the bush
Cabbie- Taxi driver
Cherry
Ripe-
Chocolate-coated cherry bar
Chin
Wag- Have a
good talk
Chips-French fries
Choof
off- Leave,
depart
Chook- Chicken, term of
affection, 'Chooky'
Chrissie- Christmas
Chuck- To throw, or be sick
Chuck
a spaz- Be angry (Also 'chuck a mental')
Chuck
a U-ie- Make a U-turn
Cobber- Mate, friend
Cockie- Cockroach or Cockatoo
Cooee- A call used to find someone lost in the bush
Coolibah-
the term for any of the several varieties of eucalyptus trees
Cop
out- Give
up or in
Couch
Potato-
Person who watches TV for long periods of time!
Crash
hot-
Wonderful, the best
Crim- Criminal
Croc- Crocodile
Croweater- Person from
Cuppa- Cup of tea
Cut
Lunch- Sandwiches
Dag- Idiot, or unfashionable
person, 'daggy'
Daks- Men's trousers
Damper- Bread made from flour and
water on a campfire in the bush
Dead
horse-
Sauce
Deadbeat- Tired
Dero- Homeless person, derilict,
hobo
Didgeridoo- Aboriginal musical instrument
made from a hollowed log
Digger- Australian soldier
(usually WW1 vets)
Dill- Idiot
Dinkie-Di-
Genuine, honest
Docs- Doctor Marten boots,
popular in
Down
Under-
Referring to
Drizabone- Brand of waterproof wax coat
Drongo- Idiot
Drum- Latest news about
something
Dummyspit- Temper tantrum
Dunny- Toilet, referring to the old outdoor unplumbed
variety
Earbash- Non-stop chatter
Esky- Insulated cooler box
Face
Fungus-
Moustache or beard
Fair
dinkum- Good, honest, truthful
Fair
go-
Reasonable chance
Fess
up-
Confess, own up
Fleabag- Term for the family dog
(non-pedigree)
Floater- Meat pie served with mushy
pea soup
Footy- Name for Australian National Football
Freddo Frog- Small frog-shaped chocolate bar for children
Freebie- Something that costs
nothing
Freshie- Freshwater crocodile
Fruit
loop- Idiot
G'day- Greeting, hello! (good
day to you!)
Garbo- Garbageman, refuse
collector, bin-man
Goodonyermate!- Good for you, well done!
Goog- Egg
Greenie- Environmentalist
Grog- Alcohol
Grotty- Run-down, dirty
Grouse- Very good, cool!
Half
your luck!- Congratulations!
Holy-dooly- Expression of surprise
(also Hooley Dooley)
Hoo-roo- Goodbye
Hostie- Air hostess, flight attendant
Icypole- Frozen popsicle
Idiot
box-
Television
Jackaroo- Cattle or Sheep Station-hand
Jaffa- Orange-flavored chocolate
ball, with hard orange coating,
Jillaroo- Female Cattle or Sheep
Station-hand
Job
You- Hit you
Joe
Blow- Mr.
Average
Joey- Baby Kangaroo
Journo- Journalist
Jumbuck- Young sheep
Just
joshin'- Just kidding
Kark
it- Die
Kindie- Kindergarten
Kiwi- A New Zealander
Knock- Criticize
Lairy-
Flashily dressed; showy
Larrikin- Playful person
Lay-by- Store system of paying for
goods in installments
Lippie- Lipstick
Lolly- Sweets, candy
Lucky
Country-
Nickname for
Maccas- A well-known fast-food chain (McDonald’s)
Mate- Friend, used instead of
someone's name!
Matilda- An affectionate term for a swagman’s bundle
Mozzie- Mosquito
Muck-up
day- Last
day of High School, a day of pranks and mischief!
Muso- Musician
Nappy- Diaper
Narky- Upset, moody
Neato- Excellent
Never
Never- Remote outback place or term for hire purchase
agreement
Nick- Steal
No
worries!- It's OK, everything's fine!
Nong- Idiot
Olds/Oldies- Parents
On
the nose-
Smelly
On
the Wallaby- A wanderer in search of
seasonal work
Onya- Good for you!
Outback- Remote bush location
Oz- Nickname for
Pav-
Pavlova-Australian desert; a meringue base with fruit and cream
topping
Petrolhead- Car enthusiast
Piker- Bore, party pooper: 'Pike
out'-To leave the party early!
Pollie- Politician
Pommie- Term used to describe an English person
Postie- Person who delivers mail
Pozzie- Position, seat
Prezzie- A present, gift
Pull
Your Head In-
Mind your own business
Rafferty's
Rules-
Having no rules
Rellies- Relatives
Ridgy-didge- Genuine, honest
Rip-snorter- An excellent thing
Ripper- Great!
Road-train- Long semi-trailer used to
transport livestock over great distances
Roo- Kangaroo
Rugged
up- Dressed
in warm clothes
Saltie- Saltwater Crocodile
Salvo- Salvation Army worker
Sandgroper- Person from
Sanger-
Scratchie- Instant lottery ticket
Sealed
Road- A paved road
Sheila- General slang term for an
Aussie female
Sickie- Paid day off work, usually not due to illness;
"I'm gonna chucka sickie tomorra"
Sloppy
Joe- Cotton, fleece-lined sweater
Snag- Sausage
Sook- Crybaby
Spit
the dummy-
Uncontrollably upset
Squatter- an early Australian farmer and rancher
Squiz- Have a look at
Stickybeak-Nosey person
Strife- Trouble
Stubbies- Men's shorts
Sunnies- Sunglasses
Sunbake- sunbathe
Swag- Possessions carried by a traveler in the bush
Tall
poppy-
Successful person in a particular field
Thongs- Rubber sandals, flip-flops
TimTam- Chocolate sandwich
biscuit, coated in chocolate.
Toey- Nervous
Trooper-Policeman
Truckie- Truck driver
True
blue-
Genuinely Australian
Tucker- Food
Twisties- Cheese-flavoured
twist-shape crisps
Two-up- Traditional heads-tails
gambling game
Uggies- Ugg boots-sheepskin
boots or slippers
Unit- Flat, condominium
Unreal!- Excellent!
Up
yourself-
Inflated ego
Ute- Utility van with tray top,
used by tradesmen
Vegemite- Yeast spread; An acquired taste,
Vegies- Vegetable
Violet
Crumble-
Chocolate-coated honeycomb bar
Wag-Skip school or work
Waltzing
– A traveling craftsman
Waltzing
Matilda- To travel with one’s swag
wrapped in a cloth or blanket
Walkabout- Disappeared, gone on long
walk
Wharfie- Dock-worker
Whinge- Complain (Usually of 'whingin'
Poms'!)
Within
cooee- Close by, in hearing distance
Wog- An illness, such as the flu
Wowser-
A spoilsport; old-fashioned
Yabbie- Crayfish
Yakka- Hard work
Yobbo- Loudmouth
You
beaut- Wonderful!
Zebra
crossing- Pedestrian crosswalk
Zeds- Sleep; 'stack some Zzzz's'
Zonked- Exhausted