G'day! If you spend 5 minutes in Australia, I can guarantee you'll hear some Aussie slang that will completely confuse you! So, for my help and your amusement, I've compiled a list of some phrases/slangs I've had to learn since arriving!
Slang
- Arvo = afternoon
- Avo = avocado (not to be confused with arvo, like I did at first)
- Barbie = Barbecue (basically the only one I knew ahead of time)
- Bathers = swim suit
- Bikkie = biscuit (technically a cookie)
- Brekkie = Breakfast
- Bubbler (QLD and NSW) = water fountain
- Bugga = an expression similar to "Oh, no!" or "That's sad" = "Aw, bugga!"
- Car park = parking lot/parking space
- Cuppa = cup of tea/coffee
- Chook = chicken
- Devo = devastated
- Doona = comforter
- Esky = cooler
- Fair dinkhum = fair enough/good point
- Good on ya! = Good job!
- How ya going? = What's up? How are you?
- Jumper = sweater/jacket? (honestly still figuring this one out)
- Lollies = sweets/hard candy
- Macca's = McDonald's
- No worries! = You're welcome, no problem, it's okay, etc. (used excessively here)
- Res = on-campus residence halls
- Revision = Review ("revision" for an upcoming exam - I think this is British, too)
- Roo (or kanga) = kangaroo
- Servo = service/gas station
- Speed trap = speed bump
- Straya = how most Aussies say Australia since they shorten basically everything
- Sweet as/Cool as = just means sweet or cool, "as" is just for emphasis (first thought = sweet as what??? cool as WHAT??????)
- SWOTVAC = "Study Without Teaching Vacation" -- the week between the end of lectures and the beginning of exams; meant for studying but is usually spent doing anything but.
- Take away = Take out
- Thongs = flip flops
- Togs = also a swimsuit
- Torch = flashlight
- Ute = pickup truck
