Ah, Australia — the land of marine reserves and vegemite, where people use “barbie” to refer to “barbecue,” and everyone tries their hardest to make words as short and fun as possible. But Australian slang doesn’t stop here. If you’ve been lucky enough to visit the country (or have one of your friends from Down Under visit you), you’ve probably noticed that Australians have their own way of speaking.
Understanding Australian slang can be difficult at first, especially if you’re not a native English speaker. After all, Aussie slang reflects the country’s unique culture, history, and personality — a mix of British, Irish, and First Nations influences with a dash of the Australian humor and sarcasm that we absolutely love. The country gave birth to unique words that make it sound like everyone is talking in code, and while some of these terms are so common they’ve made their way into mainstream English (“selfie,” “no worries”), others remain exclusively Aussie-isms.
Learning Australian idioms can be tough for anyone who isn’t actually from Down Under, but have no fear — we’ve got your back! We’ve done some research and come up with an authentic Aussie slang word list so that next time someone drops “she’ll be right” or “g’day” into a conversation, you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about. And if you happen to be in Oz yourself, we promise this list will come in handy when chatting with locals. Ready to learn how to speak like an Aussie?
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“Banana bender”
Meaning: someone from Queensland.
“Crikey”
Meaning: an expression of surprise and amazement.
“Bogan”
Meaning: someone who is not well-educated or well-mannered.
“Flat out like a lizard drinking”
Meaning: as fast as possible.
“The ant’s pants”
Meaning: something exceptional.
“Akubra”
Meaning: a type of hat worn by farmers and cattlemen.
“Billabong”
Meaning: when a branch of a river forms a pool or lagoon, usually made by water flowing from the main stream following a flood.
“Fair suck of the sauce bottle”
Meaning: used to implore someone to be more reasonable and fair.
Nope. The meaning is correct, but there are two similar expressions for this, which the above mashes together. It's 'fair suck of the sav" (short for saveloy sausage), or "fair shake of the sauce bottle". Don't ask why. We're a unique lot down here.
“King-hit”
Meaning: a sudden knock-out punch.
“Laughing gear”
Meaning: a person’s mouth.
“Ocker”
Meaning: an uncultured Australian man.
Rarely used to refer to a person, that would be "bogan" If they are going to rip meanings from the net, get them right "also used as an adjective meaning characteristically Australian; uncouth, uncultured, or aggressively boorish in a stereotypically Australian manner."
“Put a sock in it”
Meaning: used to tell someone to shut up and stop being so loud.
“Galah”
Meaning: a loud-mouthed idiot, a fool.
“Dag”
Meaning: a person who doesn’t have much style or character.
“Emu bob”
Meaning: the act or process of picking up rubbish.
“Jumbuck”
Meaning: a male sheep.
Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong, Under the shade of a Coolibah tree, And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled, "You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me", Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong, Up jumped the swagging and grabbed him with glee, And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker bag, "You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me"
“Rort”
Meaning: to scam someone, a fraudulent practice.
“Fair go”
Meaning: when you want someone to be fair and reasonable in their actions.
“Do the Harry”
Meaning: quickly get away from a difficult situation.
The whole Harold Holt situation was wild. The prime minister goes for a swim and disappears, and everyone promptly replaced him and named a swimming pool after him! They never found a body
“Onya bike”
Meaning: “get out of here and stop bothering me.”
“Gone walkabout”
Meaning: when something has gone walkabout, it means it’s missing, especially because someone has taken it.
“Boofhead”
Meaning: someone who is not very smart or acts foolishly.
“Wowser”
Meaning: a killjoy; someone who openly opposes behaviors they consider immoral and sinful, like drinking alcohol.
“Buckley’s chance”
Meaning: something unlikely to happen, no chance of it happening.
“Berley”
Meaning: a bait scattered on the water and used to attract fish.
“Chook”
Meaning: a chicken.
“Fremantle doctor”
Meaning: a nice sea breeze that makes it feel cooler on a hot summer day.
Only applies to us who live in Perth. And we usually just call it the doctor
“Furphy”
Meaning: an untrue rumor or story, usually absurd and improbable.
“Pull the wool over your eyes”
Meaning: to trick someone into believing something that isn’t true.
“Drongo”
Meaning: stupid, idiot.
“Barbecue stopper”
Meaning: a topic of public interest, especially if it’s about politics.
“Bikie”
Meaning: a member of a motorcycle gang.
As opposed to biker, which is someone who rides a motorcycle but is not gang affiliated
“Firie”
Meaning: a firefighter.
“Flash as a rat with a gold tooth”
Meaning: someone dressed too flashy and showy, usually implies there’s something shady about them and they shouldn’t be trusted.
“Grey nomad”
Meaning: a retired person who travels around Australia in a camper van, caravan, or motor home.
“Neenish tart”
Meaning: a sweet pastry case filled with mock cream and sometimes jam, topped with icing.
I love neenish tart, but haven't had one since I became celiac. There is a bakery about 15mins away that does them gluten free, but they have always been sold out when I've gone.
“Stir the possum”
Meaning: to make things more interesting, to cause excitement or controversy.
“True blue”
Meaning: genuine and loyal.
“Better than a ham sandwich”
Meaning: when something is not particularly good or exciting but still better than nothing.
If it’s really incredible it’s “better than a beetroot salad roll”
“Barrack for”
Meaning: to cheer for someone, usually by shouting words of encouragement.
I remember reading a book when I was about 12 or 13 and an American girl came to Oz and wanted to know who someone barracked for, but used the word from home which is root. To root means to have sex with someone, so the other characters were highly amused!
“Billy”
Meaning: a container used to boil water or cook over a fire.
“Bingle”
Meaning: a minor crash, a collision.
“Plonk”
Meaning: cheap, low-quality wine.
Also known as "goon", as in "Goon of Fortune", a game to play with a bunch of mates. Remove the bags from a variety of cheap cask wines and hang the bags on the Hills hoist (revolving clothes line for hanging laundry to dry). Give the clothes line a spin. Drink from the bag nearest you when it stops. You might get dry white, you might get fruity lexia. You will get very pissed, and may fall over. 😂
“Have a Captain Cook”
Meaning: to take a quick look or glance at someone or something casually and without much attention.
“What’s the John Dory?”
Meaning: “what’s going on?”
“Bushman’s handkerchief”
Meaning: when someone uses their hands instead of a tissue or handkerchief to blow their nose.
Bushman's oyster: recently castrated animal testicle, or snot, depending on the user and location
“Shoot through like a Bondi tram”
Meaning: to leave quickly or do something fast.
How old is this slang? Bondi doesn't have trams, and hasn't for longer than I've been alive.
“Hip-pocket nerve”
Meaning: an imaginary nerve that gets triggered when demands are made on one’s money.
I've never heard it with nerve mentioned, only about something hitting you in the hip pocket, which is where money would be kept.
“Six of one and half a dozen of the other”
Meaning: when both options are about the same and it doesn’t really matter which one you choose.
“Bandicoot”
Meaning: really unhappy.
“Currency lad”
Meaning: a person born in Australia.
“Seachange”
Meaning: a major lifestyle change, especially when you move from a city to a seaside town.
“Full up to dolly’s wax”
Meaning: when you have eaten enough.
Is this post made by one of those dozen people who live in "Non-America?"
Is this post made by one of those dozen people who live in "Non-America?"
