Think you know English? Probably not Down Under! The aussie lingo is a world of its own, and we absolutely love it!
To help you blend it with the crowd when exploring the antipodes, we’ve gathered some of our all time favourite Awesome Aussie Slang Words. Ace, mate!
BONZA
= AWESOME, EXCELLENT, TERRIFIC!
🌟👌 😇 Also try alternative spelling ‘BONZER’, or ‘BEAUT’, ‘BEAUTY’ or ‘RIPPER’!
BANANA BENDER
= a person from (or in) sunny Queensland, where people seemingly have nothing better to do than laze around and bend bananas. 🍌🌴🍌🌿🍌
BATHERS
= SWIMWEAR. Why call them swimwear or bikinis when you can say ‘bathers’ ‘cozzie’ ‘togs’ or ‘swimmers’? 😂🌊👙🏝️🇭🇲
P. S. This pic is from the FREE waterpark ‘Wetside’, just a short bike ride from the Woolshed. 😊 A perfect cooldown for hot days!
STUBBIE
= a 375 ml beer bottle. Now, ordering beer in Oz can be wildly confusing. Different states use different sizes for the same name. A ‘PINT’ is usually 570 ml while a ‘SCHOONER’ is usually 425 ml. Or just stick with your stubbies! Which confusingly can also refer to a slightly questionable, short pair of shorts. A tradition in Aussie bloke attire. But that’s a different story… ☝️🍻🍺😉
GOON
= cheap boxed wine. A popular use of the package is turning it into a so-called ‘GOON CROWN’ and put it on ones head to show everyone that you are King/Queen of the Goon. Probably not the best for your stomach lining but does the trick… 😵😸👑🍷
THONGS
= FLIP-FLOPS. Thought these are sandals or flip-flops? Naah, over here everyone wears thongs to the beach! 🏖️🌊👙
HARD YAKKA
= HARD WORK. Precisely what learning all these words is. 😉
SUNNIES
= SUNGLASSES. But it doesn’t stop there. Aussies love shortening their words, to hilarious extents. Here are just a few… :
MOZZIE = MOSQUITO
BREKKIE = BREAKFAST
SICKIE = SICK DAY
TRADIE = TRADER
BRICKIE = BRICKLAYER
TRUCKIE = TRUCK DRIVER
BIKKIE = BISQUIT
BRIZZIE = BRISBANE
CRISSY = CHRISTMAS
LIPPY = LIPSTICK
COCKI = COCKROACH, OR COCKATOO
COLDIE = A BEER
FOOTY = FOOTBALL
ROLLIE = A CIGARETTE YOU ROLL YOURSELF
YEWY = U-TURN
SNAGS ON THE BARBIE
= SAUSAGES ON THE BARBEQUE. And if someone offers you a ”kangaroo banga on the barbie” you know you’re eating kangaroo!
ARVO
=AFTERNOON. Not to be confused with the much loved ‘avo’ 🥑 avocado.
And there you have it. Definitely not the complete rendition of ‘Aussie English’ but we reckon if you get you tongue around a few of these Awesome Aussie Slang words, you won’t sound like a goose at the next barbie!