G’day mates! Welcome to Australia – the land of sunshine, stunning beaches and an utterly unique collection of slang 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 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!