Aussie Slang

Two kangaroos kissing

Australian slang, known as 'Strine', is a way of using certain words and phrases that have become iconic to Australians. You may find that Australians tend to speak quickly and have an unusual way of pronouncing words. Here is a list of commonly used words and phrases — try them out with your Australian friends!

Phrase/termMeaning
Acegreat, excellent
Ankle-biterchild
Arvoafternoon
Barbiebarbeque
Barracksupport (a sports team)
Bathers (also swimmers, cozzies)garment you swim in
Boganuncool person
Bottle-obottle shop (liquor store)
Blokemale
Bludgerlazy person
Buggeredtired, broken
Call it a dayfinish what you are doing
Dodgynot quite right, suspicious
Dunnytoilet
Fair gogive someone an equal chance
Give someone a bellcall someone on the phone
Good on yagood for you (can be sarcastic)
Have a bluehave a fight
Hot under the collarget angry
Idiot boxtelevision
Jumpersweater
Knock somethingto criticise something
Lamingtonssponge cakes coated in chocolate and grated coconut
Larrakina prankster, someone who likes to have a laugh
Little Aussie battlersomeone bravely overcoming hardship
MaccasMcDonalds
Mateterm of friendship
Mucking aroundplaying games, being foolish
No worriesno problem, reassurance
Reckonto agree, an opinion
Rip offto cheat
Rug updress warmly
Servoservice station
She'll be rightit'll be fine, reassurance
Shoutto pay for the next round of drinks
Show you the ropesshow you how things work
Slacklazy
Slabpack of 24 cans of beer
Spewin'not happy
Spuda potato
Spunka good looking person of either sex
Sucked into be conned or tricked into something
Sunniessunglasses
Tathank you
Take a sickiehave a day off work
Teathe evening meal (dinner) , or a cup of tea
Thongscheap rubber backless sandals
Trackie dakstracksuit pants
True bluegenuinely Australian
Uniuniversity
Up yourselfhave a high opinion of yourself
Vegemitespread for toast or bread, savoury in flavour
Veggiesvegetables
Veggoa vegetarian
Wagskip school, truancy
Whingecomplain
Wonkysomething unstable, unsteady or shaky
Wussa coward
Yobboa rowdy/loud/disruptive person

Back to top

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join the conversation