English can vary from country to country, region to region. Therefore, a non-native speaker should get used to new sounds and words and grasp English slang expressions and words. Let’s consider some Slangs in Australian Context.
What are slang words?
Slang words or phrases express something in a new way, a way you might not have heard before. Such terms are used by people from a particular country or region.
“He is very gutted after the incident,” means he is agitated in British slang.
“Pass that biccy” is the slang in Australia for pass the biscuit.
Why should I know the Slangs in Australia?
If a country has become a popular choice for higher education and work, it is Australia. And if you are considering moving to the Oz, familiarise yourself with the slangs in Australia. Slang words are crucial for Australians, and they use them frequently while communicating. Understanding and using the slang in the right way makes your English sound natural; also, you can communicate better with the natives and feel at ease in a new place. Also, Australians have a thriving slang words dictionary!
After all, the ubiquitous word ‘selfie” came from Australia!
Though these words can be peculiar for an outsider, you needn’t fret. We have created this blog to help you out.
What are common Australian phrases?
“Let’s go for a tinny, mate!”
Yup.. Such a sentence will leave you bewildered if you cannot understand the Aussie slang. Australians love to shorten words and create new ones. So read on to get familiar with Australia’s regular words and phrases. Many of these slangs in Australia have a social context.
Ace – great, excellent
A cold one – beer
Arvo – afternoon
Avo – avocado
Bail – to cancel plans
Barbie – barbecue
Bathers – swimwear/swimsuit
Beauty – great
Billabong – pond ion dry river bed
Billy – teapot over a fire during camping, in the open
Bogan – uncool person
Bloody – very
Biccy – biscuits
Coppers – police
Daks – trousers
Defo – definitely
Dunny – toilet
Fair Dinkum – true
Footy – Football (AFL / Aussie Rules)
G’day – hello
Going off – busy, lots of people
Good On Ya – good work
Have a blue – have a fight
Hard yakka – hard work
Lollies – sweets
Maccas – McDonalds
Mate – friend
Piss Off – an offensive way to tell someone to go away or get lost.
Outback – the interior of Australia. Even more remote than “the bush”
Rack Off – the less offensive way to tell someone to go away or get lost.
Rug up – dress warmly
Runners – trainers, Sneakers
Sanger – sandwich
Servo – service station / garage
Sunnies – sunglasses
Ta – thank you
Take a sickie – have a day off work
Thongs – flip flops
True Blue – genuinely Australian
Tucker – food
U -IE – to take a U -Turn when driving
Up yourself – Stuck up
Ya – You
Australian rhyming slang
A peculiarity of Aussie slang is that many of the meanings of the slangs in Australia rhyme with the word! If you wish to know why ..well, there is no sure shot answer to it. But as the words rhyme with their meanings, it is easy to understand and remember them.
|
Slang Word
|
Meaning
|
|---|---|
|
After dark
|
the shark
|
|
Young and Old
|
cold
|
|
Zane Grey
|
pay
|
|
Adrian Quist
|
Oliver twist. : meaning drunk
|
|
Alger hiss
|
Leo Kiss: meaning to piss
|
|
Al Capone
|
phone
|
|
Sandshoe
|
Thank you
|
|
Bag of Fruit
|
suit
|
|
Blood Blister
|
sister
|
|
Johnny Hopper
|
copper
|
|
Knees
|
please
|
|
China Plate
|
mate
|
|
Dig in the grave, Dad' n Dave
|
shave
|
|
Uncle Gus
|
bus
|
|
A loaf of bread
|
head
|
|
Herman Band
|
A great helping hand
|
|
Joe Baxi
|
taxi
|
|
Nail and Screws
|
news
|
|
Near and Far
|
bar
|
|
Oxford Scholar
|
dollar
|
|
Porkie Pie
|
lie
|
|
Pig's ear
|
Beer
|
|
Tin tank
|
bank or Yank
|
|
Stuey Diver
|
Hard work
|
