HOW TO SPEAK AUSTRALIAN

I’ve been in Australia for almost a year now, and it’s safe to say that a few times I’ve stood there with a blank expression on my face. The Aussies do speak English, but there’s still a lot of words that we’re unaware of in the UK, and probably the rest of the world. If you’re planning on working and living in Australia, or travelling for a long period of time, it’s worth knowing the following: (Note there are a lot more slang terms, but these are the ones I’ve picked up on and Aussies say all the time – even I’ve started saying them!)

Arvo – Afternoon

Avo – Avocado

Barbie – BBQ

Bogan – The Aussie version of a chav/redneck

Bonzer – Excellent

Bottle’o – Bottle shop – A shop that sells alcohol (Supermarkets don’t)

Bush telly – Campfire

Capsicum – A pepper – red, yellow or green

CC – Canadian Club (Usually CC and dry – Canadian Club & Ginger Ale)

Chook – A chicken

Cobber – Friend

C*nt – Friend (Don’t get offended, it’s not a swear word here, parents say it to kids, even teachers etc. It means friend!)

Esky – A cool box to store food/beers etc

G’Day – Hello

Glad Wrap – Cling Film

Goon – Cheap box wine (very popular with backpackers. 4 litres for around $14 depending which part of Australia you’re in. Don’t ask what’s in it, you don’t want to know!)

Grog – Alcohol

Lollies – Sweets/candy – everything is a lolly to the Aussies and not what we think of when we say lollies back home

Maccas – McDonalds

Manchester – Bed linen (we were very confused when we first saw an aisle at the supermarket saying ‘Manchester’)

Oath – Agreeing with something/Saying something is true

Pommy – A British person

Pot – A beer glass size – pot of beer – quite small, less than half a pint

Schooner – A beer glass size – around 3 quarters of a pint

Servo – Service Station

Stubby – Can of beer

Thongs – Flip flops

Tomato Sauce – Ketchup (Aussies look at you with a blank expression if you ask for Ketchup)

Ute – A pick up truck

Yew – People say this when they’re excited, such as a surfer catching a good wave will shout it

Zucchini – A courgette (don’t ask for a courgette over here, they will look at you with a blank expression)