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Having grown up in Australia, I sometimes take our weird and wonderful lingo for granted. Sure, every culture develops its own unique slang; I thought I had learned Spanish until I turned up in Spain to discover that people have a 'language within a language,' countless funny and often rude idioms and phrases that they just don't teach you at school.

Australia is the same. You haven't truly experienced Australia until you've had a chat with a random bogan in a bluey, durry in hand while smashing down a tinny in his stubbies and thongs. If you're lucky, he might let you help yourself to the contents of his esky, chuck a snag or two on the barbie and discuss whether he reckons the pies have got a chance of winning the flag this year. (Pro tip: the pies are a bunch of sooks and sheilas, catters all the way mate).

Needless to say, when foreigners come into contact with all this nonsensical Australian slang, it can be a bit of a head-scratcher. The internet is providing tons of opportunities for a bit of cross-cultural education, and it's always fun trying to help the uninitiated try to decode our unique way of using English words. Need proof? Scroll down below to check out some Tumblr users who were just fair dinkum stumped by it the Aussie slang, and needed an explanation. What do ya reckon? Let us know what you think in the comments!

#1

Greatest Phrase In The English Language

Greatest Phrase In The English Language

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Withnail
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, have you seen the size of a huntsman? That thing will f**k YOU!

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Peta_C
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HAHAHA! Funny because it's true! I'm Australian and have never heard that saying though.

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Random Panda
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hm, there was a continuation of this post where someone explained that Australians love to f**k with tourists by making up b******t Aussie thing, like the phrase in this post. Any Australians here who can comment if this is true?

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mouse dog
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am Australian and I have never heard anyone say, or said this my entire life.

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The Phantom of the Opera
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was originally a Tumblr post where a bunch of Australians told op that it was a prank.

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Kim Fitzgibbon
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. Have never heard that phrase. Unless its a FNQ (far north Queensland) thing but even then. No.

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Shazza
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That saying is very common here in the Outback NSW.. My hubby says it all the time

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Kenny Kulbiski
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't care if it's authentic or not! It's brilliant and I can hardly wait to use it.

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Izzy S-B
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how you guys say 'australians' like we're some creature getting featured on bindi the jungle girl

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Pamela24
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard that from Margot Robbie on The Graham Norton Show. :D Look it up on youtube, but you have to look for an interview with Alicia Vikander (that part is also brilliant).

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Emily Softley
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I might be stealing that, regardless of whether it's true.

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Irene Wilkes
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Huntsmen can be the size of dinner plates. They love living in your.bathroom to surprise you in the shower😱

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Leilani Russell
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I as mean as cat's p**s what else was i gunna to do, polish me thongs yeahnah

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Long Joan Silver
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was born and raised in Australia, and I have never used that term. I guess it depends on which state you're from. I'm in Victoria

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Kim Conroy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an aussie, and I've never heard that phrase. it's weird!

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Adriana Wall
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve lived in Australia 25 years now and have never heard this expression.

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David Williams
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spent many years on the Australian Olympic Smoking Team. I have NEVER heard a cigarette called a f*****g durry!

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In order to help you with the short intro above, here are a few funny words to say:

Bogan: An uncouth or unsophisticated person regarded as being of low social status, similar to your American redneck, but used in a slightly more good-natured way.

"Check out that fella with the mullet. What a bogan!"

#2

Melting Thongs

Melting Thongs

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Durry: A cigarette, usually of the Winny Gold or PJ 30s variety. But never menthols. That shit'll give you cancer.

Tinny: A can of ice-cold beer, often a VB, Tooheys, Swan Lager or XXXX, depends on what state you're in. But never, ever a Fosters.

"Hey Macca, ya got a spare durry mate? I'm fangin' for one over here." "Yeah righto Robbo, hold me tinny and I'll grab ya one, ya bloody scab."

#3

Everything Is Chips

Everything Is Chips

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Bluey: A blue singlet, traditionally made by the brand Bonds, that you can wear to just about any occasion in the summer months. Often also referred to with a slang word 'wife-beater,' but this term has become increasingly frowned upon.

"Bloody hell Charlene, I'm down to my last 6 blueys! Grab us a pack next time you're in town will ya?"

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#5

Aussie Slang

Aussie Slang

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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fair dinkum! South Africans and Aussies share a lot of similarities, whether we like it or not. I understood that perfectly, with a bit of background knowledge and a whole lot of my own culture and slang.

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Stubbies and Thongs: Completing the bogan uniform are a pair of short, tight shorts, perfect for showing off those chicken legs and accentuating the beer gut. And no, not a G-string (G-banga), thongs are footwear that are otherwise known as flip-flops or, hilariously, 'jandals' if you're a kiwi (New Zealander).

"I've busted a plug on me thongs again, anyone got any gaffa tape?"

#6

Trakky-Dacks

Trakky-Dacks

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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many South Africans call any kind of sneaker takkies (tackys). I don't know why, it's just the way it is.

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Esky: A portable, hard-plastic cooler that comes in a variety of colours and sizes, and is most useful for chocking up with ice and beer. Also makes a great makeshift chair at the cricket or footy.

Snag: A sausage. A staple at any normal BBQ (barbie), often wrapped diagonal-wise on a single piece of white bread and smothered in tomato sauce. A few grilled onions thrown on top if you're feeling particularly gourmet. Other barbie favourites include: rissoles, which are basically burger patties with a few breadcrumbs mixed in; steak, T-bone is a favorite cut, and a bit of salad on the side. Contrary to the popularized saying 'chuck another shrimp on the barbie,' that must be happening in another part of Australia coz I never saw a shrimp at a barbie in my life.

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Pies and Catters: Collingwood and Geelong football clubs. Australian football is the national sport, one that has to be watched to be understood. It's physical, fast-paced and full of action, and the players wear basically blueys and stubbies (see above) in true bogan style. Teams fight it out each season to win the championship (flag), culminating in Grand Final Day (think superbowl) which stops the nation as two teams go toe-to-toe in front of 100,000 people at the magnificent MCG, an iconic stadium in Melbourne. The Pies (Collingwood) are a historically successful team that everyone loves to hate, kind of like the Dallas Cowboys or Manchester United of the AFL.

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#9

Confusing Aussie Slang

Confusing Aussie Slang

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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was recently taken aback to learn that we South African's apparently mispronounce litchi, according to my Aussie friend. Well, firstly I spell it litchi, instead of lychee. And we pronounce it lee-chee, whereas he pronounces it lie-chee... Who knew that I could have a massive argument about a tiny fruit?!

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Fair Dinkum: or 'fair dinks' for short (we love to shorten everything at every opportunity), this versatile phrase is used for emphasis, surprise, or confirming that something is true. I would use it most often in the same way you would say "seriously?"

"Did ya hear Jonno got busted rootin Daryl's missus?!"

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"Whaaat. Fair dinkum?"

#11

The Most Australian Sentence

The Most Australian Sentence

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Jaz Jensen
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Australian here, C**t is friend Mate is someone I call when I don't remember their name.

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#12

Perfect Slang Example

Perfect Slang Example

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Silverfish_13
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love this, a beautiful slang message to his love Edit: yes, I am Australian

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#13

Australian To English Translation

Australian To English Translation

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#15

Australian Time

Australian Time

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#16

Aussie Traffic Reports

Aussie Traffic Reports

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Rosie Hamilton
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know chockers - in the UK that would be an abbreviation of chock-a-block meaning crammed full.

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#17

Confusing Aussie Slang

Confusing Aussie Slang

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Sasy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The more I read of this list, I wonder what the hell has happened in the past ten years that I have somehow missed in my own country, for a start if anyone called a blow job a Gobbie on the other side of the 90's I do not think anyone would have ever gotten one, how gross sounding. I know we say Gob for Mouth but seriously Gobbie, is this another state thing ?

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#19

Funny Aussie Slang

Funny Aussie Slang

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Sasy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

p**s up not only covers party, it can just mean going out with the intention to get drunk, so in other words any day from Thursday to Sunday night :P

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#21

Swagman

Swagman

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Sasy
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand this one, other than Swagman is in Waltzing Matilda and I guess the search field took Australia and Music and dropped the Christmas.

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#22

Heaps

Heaps

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Random Panda
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5 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But what is a heap? Edit: I know it means many. Thought it might be something different, because this use of the word isn't exclusive to Australia (to the best of my knowledge).

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