G’day mates! Welcome to Australia – the land of sunshine, stunning beaches and an utterly unique collection of Aussie lingo words that can leave newcomers scratching their heads.
While Australian slang can be confusing, with a little guidance you’ll soon be speaking like a true blue Aussie. To help you feel at home, we’ve developed this guide of essential Aussie slang terms to navigate everyday conversations.
| Word | Description |
|---|---|
| G’day | Hello or good day |
| Mate | Friend or buddy |
| Fair dinkum | Genuine or true |
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Barbie | Barbecue |
| Bloke | Man or guy |
| Ripper | Excellent or fantastic |
| Chook | Chicken |
| Ute | Utility vehicle or pickup truck |
| Bush | Rural or countryside |
| Daggy | Unfashionable or quirky |
| Maccas | McDonald’s |
| Servo | Service station or gas station |
| Thongs | Flip-flops or sandals |
| Up at sparrow’s | Very early in the morning, at dawn |
| Bikkie | Biscuit or cookie |
| Sanger | Sandwich |
| Muster | To gather or round up livestock |
| Dag | A funny or eccentric person |
| Tucker | Food or meals |
| Choc-a-block | Completely full or crowded |
| Bush telly | Campfire |
| Aussie salute | Swatting away flies |
| Roo | Kangaroo |
| Stoked | Excited or pleased |
| Snag | Sausage |
| Esky | Cooler or insulated container for keeping drinks cold |
| Drover’s dog | A phrase used to describe something or someone looking exhausted |
| Woop Woop | A remote or distant location; also used to describe a place far away |
| Pommy/Pom | A British person, particularly an English person |
| Fair crack of the whip | Fair treatment or a fair go |
| Veg out | To relax or do nothing |
| Bail up | To corner or trap someone in conversation |
| Ratbag | A mischievous or cheeky person |
| She’ll be right | Everything will be okay or sorted out |
| Chuck a U-ey | Make a U-turn while driving |
With a little practice and this Aussie lingo guide at your side, you’ll be cracking the Aussie code and feeling right at home in no time. So, slap on your thongs and throw a snag on the barbie (maybe even throw a shrimp on the barbie if you’re feeling hungry), and keep up the good work mates!
