Australian slang words, terms and phrases are often hard to master at first glance, but with practice, you too can get the hang of the rhyming patterns and fondness for shortening words. So whether you’re headed Down Under for a quick getaway in the sun, or planning to move there permanently, we’ve got you covered with this list of 125 common Australian slang words that will have even the locals fooled!
125 Common Australian Slang Words, Terms and Phrases
- Brekkie The most important meal of the day, “brekkie” means breakfast. “I eat brekkie every morning before sunup.”
- Bush telly “Bush telly” is what you’ll want to call the campfire when you’re camping in the Outback. “We sat around the bush telly telling ghost stories.”
- Not my bowl of rice The Australian version of “not my cup of tea,” this expression is used to express when something is not to your liking. “These shiny pink leather pants are not my bowl of rice.”
- Bog standard “Bog standard” means basic or unadorned; it’s used to describe the simplest version of something. “It’s your bog standard refrigerator, nothing fancy.”
- Bog in If you’re hungry for brekkie you may “bog in.” This expression denotes digging into a meal with enthusiasm. “‘Well, bog in,’ she said, setting down the massive cheese board in front of her sister.”
- Bizzo This handy Australian word is short for business. “It’s none of your bizzo what I was doing at midnight in the graveyard.”
- Billy The most important object in any kitchen, a billy is a teapot. “He filled the billy with water and waited impatiently for it to boil.”
- Big-note (oneself) Australians use this phrase to talk about someone who’s boasting about themselves, exaggerating their achievements, or displaying their wealth in a showy way. “They were trying to bignote themself by name-dropping all the famous people they’d worked with.”
- As busy as a cat burying sht If you’re swamped with work or running from one thing to the next you could tell your Australian friend that you’re “as busy as a cat burying sht.” “I haven’t had a moment to put my feet up all week, I’ve been as busy as a cat burying sh*t with this new job.”
- Chunder This Australian slang word means to be sick. “He’d come down with the flu and ran to the bathroom to chunder.”
- Captain Cook Think rhymes for a second—that’s the key to understanding what Australians mean when they use this phrase to denote taking a look. You can even just say you’re having a captain if you feel the need to be extra brief! “In the dead of night she heard a strange noise, so she went downstairs to have a Captain Cook.”
- Cactus When something is cactus in Australia, it means it’s ceased to work or is dead. “When I tried to leave for work this morning I realized the car was cactus.”
- Cobber Are you on your way to Australia to visit friends? If so, this word will be very handy—you should really say you’re on your way to visit your cobbers! “G’day cobber! Wanna meet at the park later for a skate?”
- Click If you’re struggling changing over from miles to kilometers, take the challenge a step further and use the Australian term for a kilometer. “We drove 15 clicks just to see the crowd that had assembled at the mention of UFOs.”
- Crack onto (someone) If you see someone cute on your trip to Australia and you want to make a move, you may want to crack onto them, aka hit on them. “I met my wife by cracking onto her at the restaurant where she worked.”
- Mad as a cut snake If an Australian is angry, you could say that they’re “mad as a cut snake,” although you may want to be careful who hears you! “When I accused him of cutting in front of me he started yelling and became mad as a cut snake.”
- Daks Daks are an integral piece of clothing, otherwise known as pants! “When we met he was wearing this gorgeous pair of orange flared daks and a lace blouse.”
- Dinkum, fair dinkum If something is dinkum in Australia that means it’s true or genuine. “Is the news about the UFO crash fair dinkum?”
- The bush If you’re out in the bush you’re away from civilization and in the countryside. “Of course, the UFO crash happened out in the bush so no one was around to see it.”
- Dob (somebody) in, dobber. To dob someone in is to tattle on someone or inform on their behavior and actions. In Australian vernacular, a dobber is a tattletale. “Despite the risk of being called a dobber, he dobbed the spy in for sharing Australian secrets to foreign powers.”
- Doovalacky Maybe you call it a thingummyjig or maybe in your house it’s known more as a whatsit. Whatever its name, we all need a word for that thing whose name you just can’t remember. “‘Where’s the doovalacky??’ I shouted to myself as I riffled through the kitchen cupboards.”
- Down Under Are you headed Down Under? This term refers to Australia and New Zealand; there’s no better way to sound like a local than to use the locals’ term for where you’re heading! “I took a trip Down Under last winter and I can’t wait to get back this fall.”
- Drink with the flies While we won’t list this as one of the top 10 things to do in Australia, if you’re way out in the bush and trying to have a relaxing evening you may end up doing just this—aka drinking alone. “Every Sunday he sits on his front porch and drinks with the flies.”
- Drum If someone gives you the drum, they’re giving you the inside scoop, information or a tip-off. “The spy stealing Australian secrets was given the drum that someone had dobbed him in and managed to stow away on a boat out of Australia.”
- Dux Both a noun and a verb, this Australian slang phrase relates to being the top of one’s class. “She duxed Chemistry and History, but she had to repeat Biology that year.”
- Earbashing An earbashing is what you might receive if you encounter a particularly chatty tour guide. This slang word conveys nonstop talk or nagging, and can also denote a lecture or scolding. “When I found the boys in the kitchen eating the cake I’d just baked for our wedding, I gave them an earbashing.”
- Exy You may know this term as expensive, but Australians prefer the shorter “exy.” “Buying dinner for the whole office was exy.”
- Fairy floss A fairground staple, this delicacy is known outside of Australia as cotton candy. “As soon as they arrived at the fair, she bought ten bags of fairy floss.”
- Figjam While this isn’t the most polite Australian phrase out there, it sure can come in handy. This nickname denotes people who think a little too highly of themselves, and actually is an acronym for “F*ck I’m good, just ask me!” “Figjams love to brag about how easy everything is for them with their superior skill set.”
- Flat out like a lizard drinking If your trip to Australia is a bit hectic and you only have a few days to pack everything in, you might use this expression to say you’re busy. “Between work, school, and my new girlfriend I’m flat out like a lizard drinking.”
- Flick If you need to get rid of something (or someone) in Australia, you can say you need to give them the flick. “On his way to the harbor the spy realized he was being tailed so he gave them the flick.”
- Fly wire This useful invention helps locals and guests alike survive in Australia, and is the Australian name for a window screen. “When I saw the size of the insects outside my room, I was grateful for the fly wire.”
- Fossick To fossick is to search for something or to rummage about in search of a doovalacky. “After the spy left Australia, his apartment was fossicked by the police.”
- As cross as a frog in a sock If someone is as cross as a frog in a sock in Australian slang that means they sound angry! “I could hear Grandma from across the yard yelling; she was as cross as a frog in a sock that the boys had stolen her cigarettes.”
- Fruit loop A fruit loop is slang for a fool in Australia. “When she’d finished lecturing the boys, Grandma called me a fruit loop for how I’d raised them.”
- Furphy Furphy is the name for false or unconvincing rumors in Australia. “Have you heard the furphy going around about the UFO crash?”
- G’day The most important slang to know when visiting Australia, “g’day” means hello and can be used anytime! “G’day mate!”
- Give it a burl To give something a burl is to give something a go in Australia. “Go on, give horse riding a burl, you may like it!”
- Gobsmacked You might be gobsmacked (aka astonished) at the size of the spiders in Australia! “She was gobsmacked to discover that the strange noise downstairs was an alien fossicking through her fridge!”
- Going off Although this term may sound negative to the untrained ear, it actually indicates a well-known party spot or a place to have a good time Down Under. “If you’re bored here at the garden party, I can take you to a place that’s really going off!”
- Good onya This phrase is used to congratulate Australians on a job well done. “You won the game? Good onya!”
- Grouse (adj.) If something is grouse in Australian slang, that means it’s very good. “This wedding cake we stole is grouse!”
- To do the Harold Holt This is another instance of rhyming in Australian slang and means to bolt. “When Grandma was through lecturing the boys, they did the Harold Holt.”
- Heaps If an Australian tells you “Thanks heaps!” you should know it means “Thanks a lot!” “He earned heaps spying on Australia and stealing information about the UFO accident until his untimely departure.”
- Hooroo When your time in Australia comes to a close, be sure to tell everyone “hooroo!” meaning goodbye. “Hooroo! See you all again soon!”
- Hottie If you get your seasons mixed up on your trip Down Under and are underdressed, you might need to sleep with a hottie in your bed—that is, a hot water bottle. “She filled her hottie with the billy and curled up with her latest novel.”
- Iso Part of a new iteration of Australian slang phrases, iso is short for isolation—a common occurrence during the pandemic while traveling. “When I first arrived I had to do two weeks of iso before I could go see the sights.”
- Joey If you’re lucky while traveling in Australia, you’ll see a joey—a baby kangaroo! “Did you see that joey in his mama’s pouch?”
- Journo A journo in Australian slang is someone who works as a journalist. “The journos struggled to balance their broadcasts between the news about the UFO and the news on the escaped spy.”
- Frog and toad If you need to get going and you’re prone to a bit of poetry, you may say that you have to hit the frog and toad—aka the road. “He hit the frog and toad back in ‘85—all we get are postcards at Chrissie.”
- Facey Facey is the Australian term for the ever-popular Facebook. “Last week on Facey I saw an article stating that the UFO crash was real.”
- Kangaroos loose in the top paddock To say that someone has kangaroos loose in the top paddock is to say that they’re either not very bright, eccentric, or foolish. “As far as I’m concerned, anyone who believes the news about the UFO has kangaroos loose in the top paddock.”
- Kindie This Australian slang word is the term for kindergarten Down Under! “When I picked my child up from kindie today they told me that they spent the day finger painting.”
- Knock To knock something is to criticize something in Australia. “She knocked the new car model, saying she didn’t see what was wrong with the old one.”
- Lair it up If someone’s lairing it up in Australian slang that means they’re behaving vulgarly. “I couldn’t believe his attitude; he was really lairing it up to impress his friends.”
- Lippy Lippy is the perfect accessory for a fancy night out when visiting Australia—it means lipstick! “He complimented his choice of orange daks with a shocking blue lippy.”
- Lollies In Australia, candy is called lollies—and it doesn’t have to be on a stick! “She begged her mom to stop and buy lollies when they passed the fair.”
- London to a brick If something is London to a brick in Australia then it’s absolutely certain. “He said it was London to a brick that the escaped spy and the UFO were related.”
- Mate “Mate” is the quintessential Australian slang word. It means friend, and can be used not only with friends but acquaintances and strangers as well. Be cautious using it sarcastically though or you may start a fight! “Good on yer, mate” (thank you!).
- Milk bar A milk bar is a local general store in Australia, selling everything from newspapers to—you guessed it—milkshakes. “Let’s go to the milk bar after school and buy lollies.”
- Mob A mob in Australian slang can refer to a lot of different things. It can mean a group of people (not necessarily a nefarious group!) as well as a group of kangaroos! “There was a mob watching the mob jump down the road.”
- Moolah This Australian slang term means money. “Did you bring the moolah so we can purchase our tickets?”
- Mozzie You may encounter a few mozzies while you’re in Australia—mozzie means mosquito! “Did you see the size of the mozzies??”
- Goss The goss in Australia is the gossip. “My friends love to meet up between classes and share the goss.”
- Muster This phrase will be particularly useful if you’re spending time in the Australian Outback, and refers to rounding up sheep or cattle. “Go muster the cows before the sun goes down.”
- Prezzie A prezzie means a present in Australian slang. “This is the best birthday prezzie I’ve ever received!”
- In the nuddy To be in the nuddy is to be naked. “My wife caught me in the nuddy grabbing a midnight snack and she thought I was an alien raiding the fridge!”
- O.S. When you leave Australia you’ll be heading O.S.—short for overseas! “Can’t you put off going O.S. a little longer?”
- Oldies Your oldies in Australia are your parents. “Ask your oldies if you can come to the milk bar with me after school.”
- Biccy Very important to have on hand if you’re boiling the billy, a biccy is a cookie! Be warned though, they’re not always sweet! “Would you pick up a packet of biccies from the milk bar on your way home please?”
- Outback The Outback is the rural area beyond Australia’s cities. It’s known for being wild, arid, and undeveloped, and it’s even more remote than the bush. “Make sure you visit the Outback while you’re in Australia.”
- Oz Oz means Australia itself! “How are you enjoying your time in Oz?”
- Bring a plate Despite how this sounds, if an Australian tells you this they’re not asking you to bring crockery—they’re asking you to bring your own food to the party! “G’day mate, party at Don’s tonight, bring a plate!”
- Porky/ porky pie A porky pie or a porky for short is a lie in Australian slang. “When I looked into the story about the UFO crash I realized it was all a porky pie.”
- Port Be sure you don’t forget your port if you’re headed to Australia—that is, your suitcase! “G’day mate, are these ports all yours?”
- Postie If you’re waiting for news from home while in Australia, you’ll be eager to see the postie, or mailman. “Has the postie come by yet? I need to mail this letter.”
- Pozzy Pozzy is short for position in Australian slang. “You want to make sure you’ve got the best pozzy in the house at a football match.”
- Chrissie Chrissie is Australian slang for Christmas! “We’re so glad you managed to visit for Chrissie.”
- Make a quid To make a quid is to earn a living in Australian slang. “Are you making a quid at that new job of yours?”
- Rage on When a party doesn’t stop even in the wee hours of the night an Australian might say it raged on. Don’s house was going off last night—we raged on until 5am!
- Reckon! If an Australian says this to you it means they’re willing—”you bet!” “‘Will you come to the dance with me Friday?’ ‘Reckon!’”
- Rellie or relo Your rellie or relo is your relative. “I heard your rellies are visiting from O.S.”
- Ridgy-didge If something is ridgy-didge in Australia then it’s the real thing. “No way, is that the ridgy-didge collector edition? I thought it was out of print!”
- She’ll be right This reassuring Australian slang phrase means “It’ll be alright.” “No matter what you hear in the news about aliens, I’m certain she’ll be right.”
- Ripper This hardcore word means fantastic in Australian slang. “That party last week at Don’s sure was ripper!” 86. Road train A road train is a big truck hauling a chain of trailers in Australia. “Traffic was held up for hours by the road train blocking the frog and toad.”
- Rock up To rock up somewhere is to arrive somewhere in Australia. “We rocked up at Don’s party straight after work.”
- Rollie A rollie is slang for a hand-rolled cigarette, popular in Australia. “G’day mate, spare a rollie?”
- Roo Going hand in hand—er, pouch—with “joey,” “roo” is short for “kangaroo.” “Did you see that roo jump!?”
- Aussie salute You may find yourself performing the Aussie salute often if your house isn’t equipped with fly wire—this expression comically means to brush away flies. “We tried to sit outside last night and enjoy the sunset, but I couldn’t stop performing the Aussie salute.”
- Sanger Find yourself hungry in Australia? You need to find yourself a sanger—a sandwich! Every day I pack myself a sanger of pickle and peanut butter for lunch.
- Shark biscuit This vivid piece of slang denotes someone new to surfing—beware! “Let’s go somewhere else, this beach is full of shark biscuits.”
- Hard yakka Hard yakka is Aussie slang for hard work. “Clearing the land to build the farm was hard yakka.”
- Barbie A barbie in Aussie slang is a barbeque. “Come round for a barbie later?”
- Crook The Australian slang word crook covers all manner of things that are bad, and can refer to something that’s unpleasant, unsatisfactory, tough, illegal, or injured. “When we first moved out here to build the farm things were crook on the land.”
- Sleepout A sleepout is a popular feature of Australian architecture, it’s a verandah which has been converted into a bedroom—useful in the heat! “It’s so hot outside, let’s sleep in the sleepout tonight?”
- Smoko When you need a break from hard yakka in Australia you might go for a smoko—a smoke or coffee break. “Fancy a smoko? My back is crook.”
- Spag bol A classic dinner around the world, spag bol is Australia’s way of saying spaghetti bolognese. “Grandpa made my favorite dish for dinner: spag bol with feta cheese on top.”
- Spewin’ If someone’s spewin’ then they’re extremely angry. It’s best to step away! “If you’re late for curfew one more night this week I’ll be spewin’!”
- Spiffy/ pretty spiffy Spiffy is an Aussie’s way of saying that something is excellent. “You’re looking pretty spiffy in your new car!”
- Sprung If you’re sprung, you’ve been caught doing something wrong in Australia. “Grandma sprung those boys stealing her cigarettes again.”
- Squizz (noun) Another way to say you’re taking a look if you want some variety from “Captain Cook.” “Take a good squizz at this strange feather I found the other day.”
- Stickybeak In Australian slang, a “stickybeak” is a nosy person who can’t mind their own business. “My uncle is such a stickybeak, always asking about my marriage troubles.”
- Stoked If an Australian is stocked then they’re extremely pleased about something. “I’m stoked that you’re coming to Oz to visit.”
- Stonkered The word stonkered encapsulates exhaustion, confusion and defeat for Australians. “I just can’t work this math problem out, I’m stonkered.”
- Strides Strides is another word for daks aka pants! “She was wearing these beautiful bright green strides and carrying a surfboard.”
- Strollout Another recent addition to Aussie slang, this term expresses exasperation and refers to the slow rollout of Covid-19 vaccines. “I’m sick of the strollout, I want to get vaccinated already.”
- Sunbake If you’re sunbathing in Australia you should be calling it sunbaking istead! “I love to sunbake for hours on the beach while my friends surf.”
- Sunnies An essential item if you’re sunbaking, “sunnies” are sunglasses. “My yellow oval-shaped sunnies compliment my summer highlights.”
- Surfies Another important beach term in Australian slang, “surfies” are surfers. “All my friends are surfies, but I don’t know how to swim.”
- Tall poppies This unique Australian term is used to talk about successful people. “I feel like I’m surrounded by tall poppies here yet I don’t know what to do with my life.”
- Tinny A tinny on a hot day just tastes better. Tinnies are cans of beer in Australia. “G’day mate, fancy a tinny?”
- Trackie daks This harmonious slang term refers to sweatpants. “Those trackie daks are spiffy mate!”
- Uni Uni is short for university aka college in Australian slang. “I can’t wait until I’m at uni and I can focus on studying Biology.”
- Unit A unit is an apartment—useful for finding a place to stay on your trip to Oz! “G’day mate, I was wondering if you have any units available?”
- Veggies Veggies is a sweet way of saying vegetables in Australian slang. “Do you want any more veggies?”
- Vee dub Vee dub stands for the Volkswagen campervan—VW. “Take a squizz at that sick vee dub!”
- Veg out If an Australian is vegging out, they’re relaxing—and you should, too! “Let’s stay in tonight and veg out in front of the TV.”
- Vejjo A vejjo is a vegetarian—useful to know when traveling to Australia. “I’m vejjo—does this have any meat in it, mate?”
- Waggin’ school If you’re waggin’ school you’re playing truant or hooky. “He caught me waggin’ school at the milk bar.”
- Thongs If an Australian asks if you’ve seen his thongs, he’s talking about flip-flops, not underwear! “Hey mate, did you bring a pair of thongs?”
- He’s got the wobbly boot on If someone’s got the wobbly boot on in Australia then they’re drunk. “Don had the wobbly boot on at his party the other night.”
- Pash A pash is a passionate kiss. “He gave me a pash outside the milk bar and everyone saw!”
- Yewy/ U-ie To chuck a yewy means to perform a u-turn in Australian slang. “Chuck a yewy at the light!”
- Bob’s your uncle Used for emphasis and to sum up, this phrase essentially means, “that’s that” or “there you have it.” “All you gotta do is take it out of the freezer, open the package, warm it up—and Bob’s your uncle.” Check out…British Slang WordsGen-Z Slang WordsNY Slang Words
