Australian Slang

Australian English is very similar to English spoken in other countries. However, like all countries we do have some words of our own. Although fun, be warned that these words aren't appropriate in all situations.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Aggro - abbreviation for aggravated, aggressive, aggression.
Ankle biter - a small or young child.
Arvo - afternoon.
Av-a-go-yer-mug - a phrase used to encourage someone to put more effort into something.
Aussie - an Australian.
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Bangers - sausages.
Barney - an argument, fight ; a mishap.
Barrel - a big rolling wave.
Bash - a party or gathering.
Beanie - a small close fitting knitted cap often with a pom pom on top.
Betty - an attractive lady.
Big smoke - the city.
Billabong - a waterhole.
Billy - a container, usually makeshift, for boiling water or tea; a bad surfer.
Bloke - a man.
Bloodnut - a nickname for a red-headed person.
Blowie - a fly.
Bludger - a lazy person who evades responsibilities, often applied to one who collects the dole and doesn't try to find work.
Blue - to fight, a dispute; depressed in spirits; a mistake; .
Bluey - a nickname for a red-headed person; a breed of Australian work dog.
Boardies - a pair of board shorts.
Bogan - a derogatorily term to mean uneducated and/or uncultured.
Bonza - excellent, attractive, pleasing.
Bottlo - a Bottle shop or Liquor store.
Bushwhacker - one who lives in the bush.
Bush week - a fictitious week when country people come to town; a time of year when stupid things happen.
Bushytailed - full of health and good spirits.
Bust - to apprehend for an illegal activity; to go bankrupt; a police raid.
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Cakehole - mouth.
Can-do - capable and obliging.
Centralia - the inland region of Australia.
Champers - champagne.
Chinwag - a chat, conversation.
Chook - a chicken.
Clobber - clothes.
Cobber - a mate, friend.
Cockeyed - twisted or slanted to one side; foolish, absurd.
Codger - a bloke, fellow, especially elderly and a little odd.
Come-a-gutsa - to fall off or crash a vessle.
Compo - compensation for injury; workers compensation.
Corker - something striking or astonishing; something very good of its kind.
Creepy-crawley - an insect.
Crook - sick, disabled, bad inferior; a thief; to get angry.
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Daft - not very Intelligent.
Dag - a person with little or no dress sense, uncouth.
Digger - an Australian soldier, especially one who served in World War I.
Ding - a dent or damaged section of a car, bike, surfboard, etc.
Dinkum / dinki-di - true, honest, genuine.
Dogga - someone who frequently gets out of things ; a police officer.
Dole - welfare payments.
Down the road - term indicating distance but no particular distance, it could be a few hundred metres but may be a few hundred miles.
Drongo - slow-witted or stupid person.
Dropkick - a stupid or foolish person.
Dunny - an outside toilet, lavatory.
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Earbash - to talk incessantly, someone who talks too much.
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Fair dinkum - real, genuine, true.
Footy - rugby league, aussie rules football
Fridge - the refrigerator.
Full - intoxicated.
Full of it - someone is full of it if they are a liar.
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G'day - a greeting meaning good day.
Gee-whiz - an expression indicating astonishment.
Get stuffed - go away.
Gnarly - difficult, awkward; terrific, excellent.
Go a meal or drink - could eat a meal or have a drink.
Go for broke - to risk all ones capital.
Goon / goony - cheap wine usually out of a flask.
Greenie - deprecatory term for an environmentalist.
Grog / booze - alcohol. beer, spirits.
Grommet - an idiot; a young surfer.
Grouse - very good.
Grub - food.
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Hack it - to tolerate something or to keep up.
Half your luck - an expression often indicating envy of one's goodwill can also be a congratulatory remark or best wishes blessing.
Hard yacka - hard work.
Hassle - to give problems, complications or aggravations.
Homestead - main residence on a sheep or cattle station (ranch or farm).
Hooroo - goodbye.
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Jig - to indulge in fun activities rather than go to school.
Jingoes - exclamation of surprise.
John - toilet.
Jumbuck - a sheep.
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Kick in - contribute money to something.
Knackered - exhausted.
Knock off - to steal something; a counterfeit product.
Kook - a second rate surfer who is unaware of their bad skills.
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Lag - to inform on someone.
Lair - flashily dressed young man of brash or vulgar behaviour.
Larrikin - a lout, a mischievous young chap.
Laughing gear - mouth.
Lebanese - getting angry unnecessarily.
Loo - toilet.
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Mag - a conversation.
Mate - usually a friend or acquaintance but anyone can be a mate.
Middy - a middle-sized (285ml) glass of beer.
Mug - a fool, one easily duped.
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No worries - not a problem
Nong - a fool, idiot.
Nitwit - see above.
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Ocker - the uncultivated Australian workingman; boorish, uncouth.
Ol' cheese - mother.
Ol' man - father.
Oldies - parents.
On a good lurk - on to a good thing.
On ya mate - usually means well done but often used sarcastically.
Open slather - free-for-all, anything goes.
Oz - Australia.
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Perler - used when something is really great.
Piker - someone who doesn't want to do something especially within a group.
Pitch in - to contribute.
Plonk - any alcoholic liquor, especially cheap wine.
Pollie / polly - a politician.
Pommie / Pom - English person (usually whinging pom).
Prawn - a shrimp.
Pub - a hotel, short for public house. Usually taken to mean the bar or drinking area in a hotel.
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Rack off - go away, get lost.
Rag - a newspaper.
Rank - getting angry ; when something is of bad quality.
Ratbag - rascal, rogue.
Rello / relly - relative.
Ripper / rip snorter - great, terrific.
Rock job - to do something embarrassing.
Roo - short for kangaroo.
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Sandshoes - casual footwear, joggers.
Sanga - a sandwich or sausage.
Schooner - a large-sized (425ml) glass of beer.
Scrub up - dress up.
Seppo / Septic tank - an American (rhyming slang for yank).
Servo - a petrol / service / gas station.
Sheila - girl, woman.
She'll be apples - all is well (rhyming slang).
Shout - buy or pay for; a round of drinks in the pub.
Skite - boast, brag.
Slab - a carton of 24 beer cans.
Smoko - a break from work ; indulge in chit-chat and a cigarette.
Snookered - when someone is in trouble and out of options.
Spit the dummy - get very upset about something.
Sport - used as a term of address usually between males like mate.
Stickybeak - to pry or meddle; one who pries or meddles.
Struth - an exclamation expressing surprise or verification.
Stubby - a small bottle of beer.
Sunnies - a pair of sunglasses.
Swag - a large number or unspecified number ; a one man tent.
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Ta / tar - thanks.
Tart - once meaning 'sweet heart' but now a derogatory word for a woman.
Tee up - to organise something.
Thingy / thingo / thingummyjig - any thing that doesn't have a precise name.
Tight - a word describing someone who wont buy a drink or wont part with money.
Tinnie - a can of beer.
Tool - an undesirable person.
True - means "is that right?"
True blue - genuine.
Tucker - food.
Tunes - music.
Twit - a foolish person.
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Uwee - a U turn.
Up the creek - in trouble (often without a paddle indicating serious trouble).
Ute - small truck, short for utility truck.
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VB - Victoria Bitter, a beer.
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Wag - to indulge in fun activities rather than go to school.
Walkabout - a period of wandering, usually in reference to Aborigines.
Walloper - one who thrashes someone.
Wally - someone who keeps making mistakes.
Waxxy / wax head - a surfer.
Westie - someone from Sydney's western suburbs, often used derogatorily to mean uneducated and/or uncultured. Also someone who acts like a westie.
What-da-ya-know - an expression of surprise; a friendly phrase used to open a conversation.
Wireless - an old fashioned term for radio.
Wombat - a simple minded person.
Wouldn't be dead for quids - strong well-being
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XXXX - a Queensland beer brand (pronounced four ex).
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Yarn - a story.
Yobbo - loutish, surly youth.
Yonks - a long period of time.