3 Interesting Facts about
Australian Slang

G’day mate! We’ve all had our fair share of exposure to Australian slang words and to be completely honest, I’m sure they made us go, “what?” more than once! What exactly do they mean? Here’s some interesting facts about Australian slang:

1. Mate is a universal term for friend/acquaintance/stranger/mum/dad/sister/brother. You get the gist, right? It’s gender-neutral and can even be used if you forget the name of the person you’re talking to. 😉

Example: How you doin’, mate?

2. Aussies love to shorten words and add the sounds “ee” or “o” at the end. Surely you’ve heard of mozzie for mosquito, footie for Aussie rules football, barbie for barbecue, avo for avocado, servo for petrol station and arvo for afternoon? There’s still a lot of other words but these are just some words that are commonly used.

Example: Let’s go to the park and have a barbie!

3. They are so laid back, and tend to approach life in a relaxed manner that it reflects on the numerous slang phrases they have! You can say, “She’ll be right”, “No dramas”, or “No wukkas” to mean that everything is alright and that there’s no need to worry!

Example: I’m worried about my upcoming assessment. If I study well, I know she’ll be right!

Slang is an informal way of communicating with friends and people on the internet. However, it is easy to misunderstand what one means especially when they are not familiar with the terms used. It is also often frowned upon in formal conversations, so don’t think of using slang with your boss anytime soon!

Let’s face it. It can be pretty hard to understand Aussies when they use slang in everyday conversations. Just look at this scene from “They’re a Weird Mob” where the protagonist Nino tries to order a beer and he’s inundated with different questions, such as if he wants a “schooner” or a “middy”. I mean, the guy just wants to order a beer! How hard could it be? Well, if you continue to watch the clip, you’ll see that it can be tricky as a guy proceeds to interview him about his background. He then continues by telling Nino that it’s his turn to “shout” which means that it’s his turn to buy a round of drinks. Phew. I think he walked straight into that one! 😉

Did you know that 82% of Aussies tend to use slang words in daily conversations with their friends? Using slang in everyday conversations can definitely help with fitting in with the crowd! Just make sure you use them in the correct context, okay? Otherwise it may result in miscommunication especially in more formal situations! *insert awkward silence*

Familiarising yourself with these slang terms are helpful in getting to know Aussie culture! If you’d like more insights into the multifaceted nature of the English language, the best starting point is our Personalised English Pronunciation Audit! Here at Speechaus, our clinicians are ready to assist you in understanding those pesky little rules to guide you towards increased English clarity.

• They’re a weird mob your turn to shout (Youtube Video)
• Australian attitudes towards popular slang