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Australian Slang"Australian Slang - Bogan, Barbie, Galah!Swimmers....find out what they mean!" The Aussie twang is officially known as the "Strine" (so named by a linguist in 1966.) Yes we speak English here in Australia but sometimes it's hard to actually follow a conversation if you are surrounded by true Aussies. The key things that you will notice is that every sentence sounds like a question as they tend to go up at the end of their sentences. You'll also notice a flattening of the vowels too. So when you've mastered that, you then need to master a whole new vocabulary of words and sayings that can be a little confusing. Take for example the word "bluey" - It can mean lots of things from blue bottle jellyfish to a traffic ticket or someone with Red hair! The Australians love to inject a bit of humour by using words that mean the total opposite. "Lofty" for someone who is short would be another example. Below you will find a list of Australian slang and Australian sayings that I have heard regularly, in the hope that you can understand more when you get here for your trip. I've also included a couple of videos. After all we wouldn't want you getting Barbie the Doll and the Aussie Barbie mixed up now would we!
Key Australian Slang - Abbreviate Everything!The first thing you can do to get into the lingo is to abbreviate as many words as you possibly can. Most should end with an "o" or an "ie" Here are some examples: Arvo - Afternoon Barbie - BBQ and not a Barbie Doll! Bikkie - Biscuit Brickie - A brick layer Brizzie - Brisbane Breckie - Breakfast Chewie - Chewing Gum Chrissie - Christmas Cozzie - Swimming Costume Exy - Expensive Kindie - Kindergarten Maccas Macdonalds Mozzie Mosquito Oldies Parents Pokies Fruit machines Roadie A beer you take away with you "one for the road" Trackies tracksuit pants Uni - university Ute - Utility Vehicle Yewy - Do a U-turn Australian Slang - Avoiding Social BlundersThen you need to make sure you don't make any social blunders: BYO - Bring your own Alcohol Bring a Plate - Bring a plate of food - a dessert or a salad etc Chook - Chicken Pash - To kiss/snog Root - Be careful not to use this word as it means F*ck Snag - A Sausage Skull - To drink a drink down in one Smoko - Go for a smoke or break Thongs - Flipflops and not Gstring underwear Tinny - a can of beer
Terms of Endearement (Well Sort OF!)Ankle Biter - Small child Aussie - Australian Bluey - Red Head Bogan - Equivalent of a chav Cook - the wife Dag - A nerd Drongo - A stupid person Galah (often flaming galah) - stupid person Pommie - British Sheila - Woman Show Pony - Someone trying too hard to dress the part
Australian SayingsChuck a Sickie - To pretend to be ill so as not to go work Fair Dinkum - That's absolutely correct Bloody Oath - That's true No worries - No problem, will do G'day Mate - Hello Good on Ya! - Good for you She'll be Right - Everything will be OK Strewth! - Wow! Gosh!
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