Learning the Australian Lingo

When you move to a new country, it is very important to mix up with people there so as to build contacts and moreover, you need some friends. To make contacts with new people, one thing that is required the most is to learn about their culture, about their habits and ways and most importantly about the way they talk and use of language.

Australia also has a particular set of vocabulary and lingo which is not only interesting but also fun to learn. For example, if you want to say Barbeque (BBQ), this becomes Barbie in the Australian lingo which refers to a social gathering with friends and family along with grilled food. Take a look at other Australian slangs below.

 

Arvo

Afternoon

 

ARIA

Australian Record Industry Award – the highest honor for musicians in Australia

 

Bikkie

Biscuit

 

Bingle

A car or any other motor vehicle accident

 

Bloke

Refers to a guy or a man

 

Bluey

Bluebottle (stinging jellyfish). But at times it can also mean blue cattle dog or redheaded person

 

Bottle-o

Liquor shop

 

Budgie smugglers

Tight-fitting men’s swimming costume

 

BYO

‘Bring Your Own’ food or drink party or social gathering

 

Chewy

Chewing gum

 

Chook

Chicken, usually a hen

 

Cuppa

Cup of tea or coffee

 

Daks

Trousers

 

Esky

Large, insulated food/ drink container.

 

Footy

Football.

 

Flat out

Used to communicate that one is really very busy

 

G’day

Hello

 

Hooroo

Goodbye

 

Icy pole

Iced lolly, ice block, popsicle

 

Jaffle iron

Sandwich press machines/ sandwich grill machines

 

Kindy

Kindergarten- School attended by children around 5 years old

 

Knock

Used to criticize someone.

 

Lingo

Language, especially slang

Mozzies

Mosquitoes

 

Nipper

Young surf lifesaver

 

Op shop

Opportunity shop or thrift store, basically a second-hand goods store. A great option for international students to save some money.

 

Piker

Someone who quits or leaves early

 

Polly

Politician

 

Plonk

Cheap wine

 

Postie

Postman

 

Rego

Registration (usually used for a car)

 

RSL

Stands for Returned and Services League.  Basically, a club used for public meets

 

Sanger

Sandwich

 

Schooner

A glass of beer.

 

Smoko

Cigarette or coffee break

 

Shout

Means “turn to pay” “turn to give treat”

 

Stoked

Pleased or delighted.

 

Servo

Service station, for basic goods, petrol and gas.

 

Sunnies

Sunglasses

 

Sook

Person who is tame, pathetic, or sorry for themselves

 

Thongs

Cheap rubber footwear, known as flip-flops.

 

Togs

Swimming costume.

 

Tool

Idiotic person

 

Tradies

Tradesmen (plumbers, electricians, etc.)

 

Ugg boots

Warm sheepskin boots were worn by surfers.

 

Ute

Utility vehicle, pick up truck.

 

Vinnies

Stands for Saint Vincent de Paul – one of Australia’s oldest charities.

 

Woop woop

Small, remote town

 

Wuss

Weak, cowardly or nervous person

 

Yewy

‘U-turn’, or 180-degree turn, usually made on the road

 

Yakka

Hard work

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