Guide to Australian Slang: 10 Essential Australian Slangs to Know

Australia is a destination that draws you in no matter who you are. It is a land of spellbinding beauty, and you can see that the country gives birth to extremes. The hot fierceness of Aussie Rules matches in Melbourne, and the champagne glitter of Sydney harbor look completely different compared to the quiet spread of Red center and surf bashed coastlines of the West. The sum of these stark contrasts is what makes the country fascinatingly diverse. So if you plan on visiting the country, do make sure you know the language well. And Australian English is not normal English, it is full of slang. We will give you a guide through 10 Australian slang so that you don’t miss out on the fun.

Using shorter versions of words has become a part of Australian culture for the past three centuries. The earliest appearance of these slangs was in the 1800s and this tradition is still going on. Did you know that the word so commonly used around the world “selfie” came from India? Speaking in slang language is an essential part of being a true blood Aussie.

10 Australian slangs to include in your vocabulary

Before you backpack your trackie dacks and sunnies, let’s look at 10 Australian slang, that will make your accent more like a Aussie-

Arvo
Straya
Footy
Barbie
Cuppa
Servo
Furphy
Seppo
Lollies
Sickie

This guide will help you become comfortable when you visit the country. And you won’t be confused if someone invites you to their house for a barbie or tell you that they will chuck a sickie.

1. Arvo

Meaning: shorten word for afternoon

When you hear someone say arvo, you don’t have to be worried, they are not cursing you. Aussies don’t want to use three syllables when they have the choice to only use two. It is popular slang for the afternoon, and it should not be confused with “avo”, another slang word for avocado.

Example- ” Are you going to Elizabeth’s house this arvo?”

2. Straya

Meaning: It is shortened version of the Australian word

This slang is the easiest of all Australian slang and is easy to pronounce also. While everyone around the world pronounces every syllable in the word Australia, Aussies tend to shorten it to Straya. You need to be especially careful when you talk to an Aussie and say Au-stra-lia, in front of them, they will make fun of you. So remember to expand the “Stra” in Australia, it should sound like “straaah”.

3.Footy

Meaning: the game of Rugby

Footy, Australian slang — Source- Unsplash

Aussies love Rugby, that’s why they have named Rugby as footy. Don’t confuse the word with other types of football, it is called soccer in Australia. You can ask an Aussie about what is a footy, they won’t be affected because they love the sport. You can make an Aussie your friend if you talk enthusiastically about footy.

4. Barbie

Meaning: It is a slang word for Barbeque

It is an Australian slang word for Barbeque, and the sentence “shrimp on the barbie”, which is loved by Aussies, reminds us of happy social gatherings. This slang is not at all related to the blonde doll for children of the same name.

5. Cuppa

Meaning: a cup of tea

cuppa, 10 Australian slang — Source- Unsplash

This is another common slang in our list of 10 Australian slang, that you will most probably hear after a few hours if you think of spending time in Australia. The strange yet fascinating habit of Aussies abbreviating words has led them to abbreviate four words of “a cup of tea” into one. It’s normal to drink tea in Australia, and it has become so common that they have their own brand of tea called Bushells.

Example- G’day mate, would you like to pop round for a cuppa in arvo?

6. Servo

Meaning: Gas or Service station

Just like the UK and India, Aussies also refer to car oil as petrol, unlike Americans who call it gas. So in America, where you get your car, the fuel is called a gas station, and since Australians have almost everything inside their gas station, they call it a service station. In Australia, you can buy milk, coffee, water, charge your phone, etc. at a service station. And since service station is a long word for Aussies they shorten it to “Servo.”

7. Furphy

Meaning: A rumor or story that is untrue or absurd

In our guide of 10 Australian slang, this slang is Aussies’ way of saying that what you just told them is a rumor or a false story. This slang traces its origin as early as World War I, where furphy carts were used for water or sewage, made by the furphy family.

8. Seppo

Meaning: Australian slang for Americans

This slang was derived from the British term yank which means “septic tank”, it is used by Aussies to mock Americans as people “full of shit”. It originally came into existence in the 1980s. Most Americans don’t know this slang exists, and Aussies use this more in front of them.

9. Lollies

Meaning: sweet or candy

lollies, 10 Australian slang — Source- Unsplash

Lollies are basically any type of candy. Like a lollipop is a lolly on a stick, all lollipops are lollies but all lollies are not lollipops. Lollies can be of many types: hard lollies, chewy lollies, anything covered in a small individual wrapper. But chocolate is not a lolly.

10. Sickie

Meaning: a sick leave when you are not ill

Sickie is Australian slang for sick leave when the Aussies don’t really feel like going to work, or they drank too much the day before. Most Aussies pull this card when they don’t want to waste their precious annual leave and also don’t want to go to work.

5 Australian Slang Phrases For Your Australian Trip

These Australian slang phrases will help you speak like a native. If you plan to make Aussies your friend, these phrases must be added to your vocabulary. Oi mate, let’s get started!!

1. No worries, mate, she’ll be alright

It reflects the true spirit of Australians and suggests everything (she) will be fine in the end. In other words, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, so no need to worry about anything.

2. Pull the wool over your eyes

Aussies need to be honest with each other and share equally with everyone around them, this basically is related to food. So if someone is stealing extra food or being dishonest, he is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

3. Six of one and half a dozen of the other

This slang phrase is not like the popular phrase “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” but it’s a straight statement that the situation is 50-50, your decision will not affect the outcome. That’s you will end up with a dozen on either way anyway unless it is a baker’s dozen.

4. Onya bike, tell your story walking

When you don’t want to talk to someone and don’t want to do something with them, you tell them to get their onya bike, which suggests that they leave. This slang is quite the opposite of “hold your horses”. And if they give you excuses to stay, you can tell them to “tell their story walking”

5. Not pissing on sombody when they are on fire

It means you don’t care at all about the person and won’t agree on pissing on them if they caught fire. You wouldn’t help them even by pissing on them to put the fire out.

Now that you know 10 Australian slang, are you planning to visit the beautiful country? Its beauty and contrasting features will surely leave you astonished. Why don’t you check out Australia travel packages on the Pickyourtrail website? If you don’t like these packages, customize your own Australia itinerary. So what’s stopping you from a adventurous vacation?