If there鈥檚 one thing Australians love, it鈥檚 giving the English language a unique antipodean twist. Aussie slang 鈥� colloquialisms unique to Australia and its states 鈥� makes conversation colourful. However, it can also be confusing for international students.
Fortunately, we鈥檝e put together a guide of some common words to help you build your confidence with Aussie slang.
Aussie slang: understanding the basics
In Australian slang, you鈥檒l often see and hear people shortening words or adding 鈥榦鈥� and 鈥榚e鈥� sounds at the end of them, such as 鈥榬ello鈥� for relative or 鈥榩ostie鈥� for a postal worker.
But the meanings of some Australian slang terms can come as a real surprise. Did you know that goodbye in Australian slang is 鈥榟ooroo鈥� and toilet is 鈥榙unny鈥�? Well, now you do!
The Aussie slang terms you need to know
General
Arvo: afternoon
鈥淚鈥檒l see you at the lecture tomorrow arvo.鈥�
Bathers: swimsuit
鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to the beach, I need to pack my bathers.鈥�
Chockers: full or crowded
鈥淭he bar was chockers when we arrived! We couldn鈥檛 find a seat.鈥�
Full-on: intense or extreme
鈥淔ootball training was full-on this week.鈥�
Heaps: a large amount
鈥淚 did heaps of revision for this exam.鈥�
No worries: it鈥檚 okay/no problem
鈥淢ay I borrow a pen?鈥�
鈥淵eah, no worries!鈥�
Servo: a service station or petrol station
鈥淲e can buy some snacks from the servo.鈥�
She鈥檒l be right: it will be okay
鈥淒on鈥檛 stress 鈥� she鈥檒l be right!鈥�
Shout: to pay for someone鈥檚 food or drink
鈥淵ou bought my drink earlier, so this one is my shout.鈥�
Food and drink
Avo: avocado
鈥淎ussies love avo on toast.鈥�
Barbie: barbecue
鈥淒on鈥檛 forget Matt is hosting a barbie at his house this weekend.鈥�
Bikkie: biscuit
鈥淟et鈥檚 buy some bikkies for the picnic.鈥�
Brekkie: breakfast
鈥淏rekkie is the most important meal of the day.鈥�
Chokkie: chocolate
鈥淲ould you like something sweet? We have some chokkie in the fridge.鈥�
Cuppa: a cup of a hot drink
鈥淲ould you like a cuppa?鈥�
Esky: ice cooler
鈥淚f you鈥檇 like to keep your drinks cold, you can put them in the esky.鈥�
Sanga: sandwich
鈥淚鈥檝e packed a sanga for lunch.鈥�
Emotions and states of being
Crook: sick or ill
鈥淚 won鈥檛 be in class today; I鈥檓 too crook.鈥�
Devo: devastated
鈥淚 was devo when I missed the train.鈥�
Stoked: very happy/excited
鈥淚鈥檓 so stoked to go to the beach this weekend.鈥�
Academia
D: distinction
HD: high distinction
P: pass
鈥淕rades for this course range from P, to D, to HD.鈥�
Workplace
Call it a day: to finish what you are doing
鈥淟et鈥檚 log off and call it a day.鈥�
Sickie: a day off work because of sickness
鈥淚鈥檓 not feeling well. I think I need to have a sickie tomorrow.鈥�
Squiz: to take a look or investigate
鈥淭hanks so much for sending through that draft. I鈥檒l take a squiz after my meeting.鈥�
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颁耻谤迟颈苍鈥檚 CHAtS (Help with speaking English) programs are here to provide further support with improving your English language skills. CHAtS uses fun, conversational activities to help you feel more confident with speaking in English, including the use of Australian slang.
The programs are available in person at 颁耻谤迟颈苍鈥檚 Perth and Kalgoorlie campuses (CHAtS Perth and CHAtS Kalgoorlie), in partnership with 911爆料网 English (CHAtS ELICOS) and in the Town of Victoria Park (CHAtS Town of Victoria Park). They are also available online via video calls.
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Many students who speak English as a second language attend and enjoy the benefits of becoming more confident communicating in English. With help from CHAtS and/or 911爆料网 English, you鈥檒l feel confident ordering your sanga with extra avo and saying 鈥淪he鈥檒l be right鈥� in no time!
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