Using abbreviations and slang words is a crucial part of being considered a real “Aussie”. Australians shorten words and phrases whenever possible and it is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic slang words before coming here.  So instead of scratching your head and thinking “what the…” when you get invited for a “barbie” or a “coldie”, keep reading to find out what these terms actually mean J

 

Aussie

Starting with the basics – Australians call themselves “Aussies”. Easier and quicker to pronounce than the whole “Australian”, so add it to your Aussie Slang Dictionary.

 

Brekky

Easier way to call the first meal of the day, known as Breakfast. You might find different ways to spell it – “brekky” or “brekkie”, both are correct.

 

Barbie

No, we’re not speaking about the most popular doll in the world, although that might be the first thing that comes to your mind when your friends mention having a “Barbie” on the weekend. What they actually mean is the good old Barbecue. Aussies love doing barbecue, especially during summer, in the parks and near the beach. The usual best companion for a “Barbie” with mates is a “coldie” – keep reading to find out what does it stand for.

 

Cuppa

Although coffee is definitely one of the most popular beverages in Australia (no surprise here, it’s bloody delicious!), tea has also been made quite popular, enough to earn its’ own slang word. Cuppa means simply “a cup of tea” – 4 words shortened into one and so much time saved!

 

Arvo

“See ya in the arvo” stands for making plans for the afternoon. As simple as that!

 

Avo

One of the Aussie “traditional” fruits – the famous and delicious avocado, beloved by all Australians, sold in all the supermarkets and served with majority of the dishes. The very favourite brekky meal for Aussies is Smashed Avo on toast. Avocadoes here are really yummy and generally priced well.

 

Defo

A shorter way to say “definitely”. Because who has time to pronounce this kind of long, time-consuming words? When you want to provide some reassurance just say “defo” and everything will be crystal clear.

 

Maccas

Wouldn’t it be too boring and too easy to use the full name of this famous fast-food chain just like everybody else around the world? Yes it would. That’s why when you feel like going for a burger to McDonalds, it’s enough to use this very well-known abbreviation – “Let’s go to Maccas!”.

 

Straya

“Welcome to Straya mate!” is what you’re most likely to hear from your Aussie friends after arriving to the Land Down Under J  Australians love their country, that’s without doubt, however you will rarely hear anybody pronouncing the country’s full name – it’s simply not necessary, everybody knows what “Straya” means.

 

Footy

This one is quite easy to figure out – footy stands for “football”, however it’s not the traditional football as we know it in Europe – here it would be called “Soccer”. Footy refers to all types of Australian Football. Aussies love footy and they talk about in on numerous occasions. If you want to start a conversation with somebody that you’ve just met, ask them about the last footy game that they’ve seen and you can expect a long conversation!

 

Selfie

Did you know that selfie was invented in the Land Down Under? That’s right, one of the most popular inventions of the XXI century comes from Australia. The term was first used in 2002 on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Online Forum, when after a night out; an Australian man posted a photo of himself, calling it a “selfie”. In 2013, the term ‘selfie’ was named the word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries.

 

Coldie

A commonly used abbreviation to speak about a cold can or bottle of beer. You’ll most likely hear that one a lot “let’s grab a coldie mate”! It’s a perfect companion for long and hot summer days and a must-have on a Barbie day.

 

Heaps

It simply means “a lot” and serves a purpose of expressing a large quantity of something.

 

G’day

A shortened form of “Good Day”. Aussies can’t be bothered to pronounce the complete phrase, therefore they greet themselves with a short and simple “G’day mate!”

 

No worries

Most popular way to say “it’s okay”, “not a problem” or “yes of course”. “No worries” serves many purposes and although it sounds quite informal, it’s widely used all over the country. Make sure to add it to your Aussie slang dictionary!

 

Bugger

This word is not an abbreviation, nevertheless it forms an essential part of Australian speaking culture and is used to express a frustration – simply say: “That’s a bugger!” or “What a bugger!” when something goes against your wishes.

 

Flat Chat

A popular term used to say that you’re very busy “I would love to hang out but I’ve been a bit flat chat”.

 

Mate

Another unique Aussie slang word, to describe a friend, companion, fellow or simply used as a friendly way to refer to another person when having a conversation: “What you’ve been up to mate?” or “G’day mate!”.

 

Bloody

Used as an emphasis, especially when the person speaking angry J  The word “bloody” comes originally from British slang.

 

Take advantage of this article and learn the words mentioned above to make sure you feel at home on your first day in the Land Down Under. Keep in mind though that slang words are usually informal and although most people used them all the time, there are some situations when using slang won’t be appropriate like for example – job interview. Use the words when speaking to your mates and in informal situations.

 

Australian English is quite unique and can surprise many visitors, it’s more than just a different accent. Once you get used to the fact that Aussie slang is characterized by shortening the words as much as possible, your Australian journey will be much easier!