Guide to Australian Slang: Sayings, Phrases, Idioms, and Unique Vocabulary

Australia, being so far away from the rest of the English-speaking world, has, over the years, transformed the language into its own fun, crude, and unique version that only Aussies can decipher. Australian slang is unlike anything else you’ll hear around the world, and even the most crass of British, Irish, and Scottish slang words cannot beat the vulgarity and hilarity of the idioms, sayings, and insults you hear Down Under.

This guide to Australian slang, sayings, and one-of-a-kind vocabulary will assist you in understanding what the locals are saying — and maybe even help you blend in without having to drink Foster’s and pretend to like Vegemite.

Australian slang words and phrases and how to use them
Funny Australian sayings and their meaning

Australian-up your vocabulary

Australian slang words and phrases and how to use them

I’ve been flat chat

Translation: I’ve been very busy
Alternatives: “I’ve been flat out like a lizard drinking” or “I’ve been busy as a one-legged man in an arse-kicking contest.”

Budgie smugglers

Translation: Speedos
Explanation: Skimpy male beachwear. The bulge in the lycra briefs’ forward-facing extremity resembles that of a parakeet, or “budgie” to Aussies.

Yeahnah

Explanation: This quintessential Aussie slang word is useful if you want to disagree with someone in a very polite way.
Alternative: Yeahyeahyeahyeahnahhh / Yeahyeahnah

Screama

Explanation: Australian slang word describing something that is impressive or impactful.
Alternative: Blinder
Example of usage: “Mate, that was a screama of a match last night.”

Real rip snorta

Translation: Fantastic / Really, really good / Intensely excellent

Spit the dummy

Translation: Throw a fit
Explanation: Expressing extreme dislike for a particular situation in the form of an immature tantrum like that of an infant spitting out their pacifier and bursting into a crying fit.
Example of usage: “I appreciate that you’re upset that your brother recently made love to your girlfriend; however, there is no need to spit the dummy.”

Fair dinkum

Explanation: An affirmation or response to good news. Fair dinkum can be used in a variety of contexts, such as to say that someone is genuine or to ask if one is telling the truth. It is one of the most commonly used Australian slang phrases.
Example of usage: “You can trust Jill, she’s fair dinkum” / “I just got a job in South Africa!” “Fair dinkum?”

Dunny

Translation: Toilet
Alternatives: Loo / Crappa / Outhouse / Thunderbox / Long drop

Getting munted

Translation: Getting drunk
Alternatives: Getting paro / Pissed / Maggoted / Being Loose

Bogan

Explanation: Australian rough and ready individual with an affinity for the mullet hairstyle, touring car races, Victoria Bitter beer, and generally uncouth behavior.
Example of usage: “Stay away from Rundle Street during the Clipsal 500 car race; you may well end up in a fistfight with a pissed bogan.”

Having a whinge

Translation: Moaning, whining, or complaining
Example of usage: “Jim is having a whinge about his girlfriend, boss, or something or other. I stopped listening after he opened his mouth.”

Top bloke

Translation: Great guy
Explanation: Bloke is simply a male
Example of usage: “Jonno is such a top bloke; he gave me free tickets to the footy, bought a case of beer, and set me up with his smoking-hot cousin.”

Pull your head in

Explanation: Reprimand for behaving in an idiotic fashion
Example of usage: “Stop being a dickhead and pull your head in.”

Having a chinwag

Translation: Chatting

Chuck a sickie

Explanation: Strategically fabricating an illness in order to avoid work for personal matters or self-indulgence.
Example of usage: “With such beautiful weather on Friday, I decided to chuck a sickie and enjoy a three-day weekend.”

My shout!

Translation: My round!
Explanation: When one person pays for everyone’s drink at the bar. In a group, each person generally takes turn to pay for a round / a shout.

Bloody oath

Translation: You bet / Of course / That’s true
Example of usage: “Bloody oat I’m coming to your party!”

He’s gone walkabout

Translation: He’s disappeared / He’s left without saying where he was going
Example of usage: “My keys have gone walkabout!”

Funny and rude Australian sayings and their meaning

I didn’t come here to f*ck spiders

Translation: I don’t want to waste my time

I’m dry as a dead dingos donger

Translation: I’m thirsty (for a beer, most likely)

I could eat the arse out of a low-flying duck

Translation: I’m very hungry
Alternative: I’m hungry enough to eat a horse then chase the jockey!

She could put a horn on a jellyfish

Translation: She’s hot

He’s all sizzle and no steak

Translation: He’s all talk
Explanation: He does not live up to expectations

He’s built like a brick shithouse

Translation: He is a strong, muscular man

She is cross as a frog in a sock

Translation: She’s angry
Alternative: She’s mad a cut snake

Handy as an ashtray on a motorbike

Translation: Useless
Alternatives: Handy as a back pocket on a singlet / Handy as tits on a bull

He couldn’t organize a booze-up in a brewery

Translation: He’s disorganized
Alternative: He can’t organize a bucket of sand at the beach

Whim wham for a goose’s bridle!

Translation: None of your business!

He’s a bullock short of a deck

Translation: He’s not very bright

Australian-up your vocabulary

How ‘r’ ya going?

Translation: How are you? / How is it going?
Explanation: A casually inquisitive greeting on the state of one’s affairs. More of a pleasantry than a genuine question regarding how you’re actually feeling.

G’day, mate

Translation: Hello / Hi
Explanation: The classic Aussie greeting where “good” and “day” compress to form the hybrid word of “G’day”.

No wukkas

Translation: That’s okay
Alternative: No worries / No dramas
Explanation: It’s like saying “take a chill pill,” “you’re welcome,” and “it’s going to be alright” all at the same time. “No wukkas” is a shortening of “No wuckin furries,” which needs no explanation.

That’s heaps good

Translation: That’s really good

Thongs

Translation: Flip-flops

Togs

Translation: Bathing suit / Swimming costume / Swimwear
Alternatives: Cossies / Swimmers

Esky

Translation: Cooler

Ambos

Translation: Ambulance workers / Paramedics
Explanation: Australians are very fond of shortening words, including profession titles. There is “tradie” for tradesperson, “brickie” for bricklayer, “firie” for fireman, “polly” for politician, “journo” for journalist, “greenie” for environmentalist, “gyno” for gynecologist, etc.

Pashing

Translation: Kissing
Explanation: You may even get a “pash rash” afterwards

Durries

Translation: Cigarettes
Alternative: Darts

Bevvos

Translation: Beers
Alternative: Frothies / Grog / Longnecks / Cold ones

Servo

Translation: Gas station / Service station

She’ll be right

Translation: She’ll be okay

Maccas

Translation: McDonald’s

Tinnies

Translation: Cans of beer

Brekky

Translation: Breakfast

To chuck a U-ey

Translation: To do a U-turn
Alternative: To do a U-bolt

Snags

Translation: sausages

Misso

Translation: Girlfriend / Partner / Wife
Alternative: Missues

This article is the combined work of five writers: Will Bowie, Jess Buchan, Lauren White, Stephanie Be, Elke Wakefield, and Kate Beveridge.

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