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N.B. “rising trot” is known as “posting trot” in the United States
Arvo – afternoon
Aussie – a person from Australia (pronounced “Ozzie”) or an adjective for something that is Australian (e.g. “Aussie animals”)
Beauty – great, fantastic, showing excited approval (often used in the phrases “You little beauty!” or “That’s beaut!”)
Bloke – man (equivalent to “guy”)
Bloody – known as “the Great Australian Adjective”, not regarded as profane or swearing, it is used as an intensifier for both positive and negative qualities (e.g. “bloody awful” and “bloody wonderful”)
Blotto – very drunk
Boardies – board shorts
Brilliant – very good, excellent
(To) Bucket Down – rain heavily
Chalkie - teacher
Cheers – general greeting, often used for thanking someone or saying goodbye or to sign notes
Cold enough to freeze the medals off a brass monkey – very cold
Crikey – an exclamation of surprise or bewilderment
Cripes – an exclamation of surprise or dismay
Dodgy – untrustworthy, possibly poor quality
Fancy a drink? – would you like to have a drink (with me)
G’day – the ubiquitous Australian greeting
Give (someone) a holler – call them, contact them
Good onya – a version of “good on you”, praising someone for their efforts, similar to “kudos”
In a tick – in a second (tick of the clock)
Littlies – small children
Mate – friend, sometimes equivalent to “buddy”
Me – sometimes used instead of “my” (e.g. “I’ve lost me socks”)
No worries – no problems, don’t worry about it, that’s all right
O.S. – overseas
Pack up – to break, stop working
Pash – a passionate kiss or to kiss someone passionately
Plonk - wine
Pom – someone from Britain (usually England)
Pommyland – Britain
Roo - kangaroo
Spunky – describing an attractive person of either sex
Strine – Australian slang, based on the way Australians pronounce “Australian” = “Aus-strine”
Stubbie – a small squat 375 ml bottle of beer
Ta – thank you
“Tall poppy” – highly successful people who rise above the rest and may develop an overblown ego. They are often seen as needing to be “cut down” in Australia, where the culture favours the “underdog”
Telly - television
Too right – vehement agreement with something
True-blue – genuine, authentic
What do you do for a crust? – what do you do for a living, what’s your job
The following Australian words are not “slang” but the meanings differ from American usage:
Boot – the rear storage compartment of a motor vehicle
Bonnet – the front cover over the engine of a motor vehicle
Torch – flashlight (pen torch = penlight)
