You made it to
Australia! You’re living and studying here, got your Kangaroo selfie, and learnt about Australian birds the hard way…
But no Australian experience is truly complete without using some
proper Australian slang!
After all, it is a core part of
our culture and the way
we Aussies communicate.
But let’s slow down…
What is Australian slang?
Australian slang words and pronunciation are characterised by
making words as short as possible. You surely know ‘Selfie’, don’t you?
‘Selfie‘ is a term spread by an Australian university student. Australians like to shorten words. A lot.
So using slang will
make your communication much more natural and h
elp to develop friendships with Australians.
Commonly used slang
There are a lot of Australian slang words that you should learn if you are in Australia or planning to visit, but let’s stick to some of
the most common ones:
Think about their meaning as you read them!
- Arvo
- Avo
- Barbie
- Bikkie
- Bottle-O
- Brekkie
- Chockers
- Chokkie
- Cuppa
- G’day mate!
- Maccas
- Mozzie
- No worries
- Servo
- Straya
- Ta
How many of these did you know or have heard before?
Let’s check the meaning!
- Arvo – Afternoon
- Avo – Avocado
- Barbie – Barbeque (BBQ)
- Bikkie – Biscuit
- Bottle-O – Liquor store
- Brekkie -Breakfast
- Chockers – Very full
- Chokkie – Chocolate
- Cuppa – A cup of tea
- G’day mate! – Hello, friend!
- Maccas – McDonald’s
- Mozzie – Mosquito
- No worries – Don’t worry about it!
- Servo – Gas station
- Straya – Australia
- Ta – Thank you
Slang develops over time, and new words are still being added.
Using slang
with your friends is good. However, it is
rarely used in writing and formal situation.
It is important to clearly
understand when and how to use it. If you master Australian slang words,
you’ll become an Aussie in no time!
