Australian slang, also known as ‘Strine’ is widely used by Australian people. These are common words and phrases that have become iconic to Australians. The knowledge of Aussie slang would help international students studying in Australia in various way. It would make the stay of international students easier by helping them understand the people around. Aussie people tend to speak quite quickly and have different way of pronouncing words.
Some of the commonly used words and phrases in Australia are listed here:
Phrase/term | Meaning |
---|---|
Ace | great, excellent |
Ankle-biter | child |
Amber fluid | Beer |
Aussie | Australian |
Arvo | afternoon |
Barbie | barbecue |
Beaut, beauty | great, fantastic |
Big Mobs | loads, a lot of |
Bloody | very |
Bloody oath | that’s certainly true |
Blue | argument/mistake |
Bodgy | poor quality |
Bonzer | great, ripper |
Bottler | something excellent |
Barrack | support (a sports team) |
Bathers (also swimmers, cozzies) | garment you swim in |
Bogan | uncool person |
Bottle-o | bottle shop (liquor store) |
Bloke | male |
Bludger | lazy person |
Buggered | tired, broken |
Call it a day | finish what you are doing |
Dodgy | not quite right, suspicious |
Dunny | toilet |
Dead dingo’s donger | (as dry as a ) dry |
Deadset | true/the truth |
Dingo’s breakfast | no breakfast |
Dinkum/fair dinkum | true, real, genuine |
Dinky-di | the real thing/ genuine |
Docket | a bill, receipt |
Doco | Documentary |
Drink with the flies | to drink alone |
Dunny rat | (cunning as a) very cunning |
Exy | expensive |
Fair dinkum | true, genuine |
Fair suck of the sav | exclamation of wonder, awe, disbelief |
Furphy | rumour |
Fair go | give someone an equal chance |
Give someone a bell | call someone on the phone |
Good on ya | good for you (can be sarcastic) |
G’Day | hello! |
Give it a burl | try it, have a go |
Give it away | give up |
Going off | good fun |
Good oil | useful information, a good idea, the truth |
Grouse | great, terrific |
Have a blue | have a fight |
Hot under the collar | get angry |
Idiot box | television |
Jumper | sweater |
Knock something | to criticize something |
Kangaroos loose in the top paddock | Intellectually inadequate |
Knock back | refuse |
Lamingtons | sponge cakes coated in chocolate and grated coconut |
Larrakin | a prankster, someone who likes to have a laugh |
Little Aussie battler | someone bravely overcoming hardship |
Maccas | McDonalds |
Mate | term of friendship |
Mucking around | playing games, being foolish |
No worries | no problem, reassurance |
Piece of piss | Easy task |
Pig’s arse | I don’t agree |
Plate, bring a | Instruction to bring a plate of food to a party |
Pozzy | position |
Quid, make a | earn a living |
Ridgy-didge | original, genuine |
Reckon | to agree, an opinion |
Rip off | to cheat |
Rug up | dress warmly |
Servo | service station |
She’ll be right | it’ll be fine, reassurance |
Shout | to pay for the next round of drinks |
Show you the ropes | show you how things work |
Slack | lazy |
Slab | pack of 24 cans of beer |
Spewin’ | not happy |
Spud | a potato |
Spunk | a good looking person of either sex |
Sucked in | to be conned or tricked into something |
Sunnies | sunglasses |
She’ll be apples | It’ll be all right |
Sparrows fart | dawn |
Strewth | exclamation |
Stoked | very pleased |
Stuffed, I’ll be | expression of surprise |
Ta | thank you |
Take a sickie | have a day off work |
Tea | the evening meal (dinner) , or a cup of tea |
Thongs | cheap rubber backless sandals |
Trackie daks | tracksuit pants |
True blue | genuinely Australian |
Too right | definitely |
Turps, hit the | go on a drinking binge |
Uni | university |
Up yourself | have a high opinion of yourself |
Vegemite | spread for toast or bread, savory in flavor |
Veggies | vegetables |
Veggo | a vegetarian |
Wag | skip school, truancy |
Whinge | complain |
Wonky | something unstable, unsteady or shaky |
Wuss | a coward |
Yobbo | a rowdy/loud/disruptive person |
Zack | Not worth anything |