Australian Slang

    Australian English Slang by Street Talk Savvy

    Australian English -Strine Mate

    Australian English, colloquially known as ‘strine’ was born mainly from a mixture of the 2 main groups of convicts it received in its early history, The Irish & the Cockneys from East London. It is characterised by flat long vowels, speaking through the nose (but not all speakers), shortened nouns, & some consonants that are pronounced so softly you can hardly hear them. Words like those with little emphasis on the consonants can easily merge into one as in the common phrase like  ‘Owya goin’ mate?’ Or ‘How you going mate?’

    Australian English is well known for shortening nouns; surnames, place names and christian names. Generally you take the first syllable and add a “y” or “o” (Jenkins-Jenko, Woolridge-Woolly, Coolangatta-Cooly). First names with an “r” in them will be Barry-Bazza, Sharon-Shazza and Larry-Lozza.
    These days the spoken Australian English like most English slanguages is a mixture of the British English taught in schools & the American English more often found on the television.

    Originally used as the flag for the successful campaign for the America’s Cup

    Quintessential Australian

    Mate: no other word can let you know that you’re talking to an Australian than ‘mate’. Even though it is used also by the Brits specifically English, and forms a great part of New Zealand speak, it is the frequency that it is used in Australia.
    Mate is used instead of friend, or a colleague that you vaguely know or an unknown male person in your vicinity. Some of its uses are:
    G’day (or Gidday) mate!  
    Old mate
    Flatmate/Housemate- someone who shares a house with another
    Workmate- work colleague

    Gidday or G’day- Good day. The typical Aussie greeting
    No worries mate-   this expression is based on the idea that Aussies have a laid back or relaxed attitude to life. No worries mate is used in a variety of situations.
    Meaning ‘You’re welcome’, ‘Don’t you worry about it’ or “I understand you’

    Bloody- the great Australian superlative or intensifier. You’re bloody stupid. Bloody hell!

    No ketchup allowed in Australia

    Tomato sauce is the only acceptable word used for this popular condiment

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    Greetings & Salutations

    Coo-ee-   call from a distance (in the forest) to see if anyone is around

    Get amongst it

    G’day mate

    Have a good day

    Hey big fella/champ   (said by men to men)

    Hi darl! Hi darling (said by women only)

    How they hanging? ‘One to the left, one to the right’?

    How the hell are ya?

    How ya goin champ?

    I’ll hit the frog and toad (rhyming slang) I’m off

    Not bad

    Not too bad

    Image via Wikipedia

    No worries mate

    No wuckers/ (no wucking furries-in full)

    Ow ya goin mate?

    See you round like a rissole

    Ta

    Thanks heaps
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    Narooma by Street Talk Savvy as found in Australian Slang

    Narooma, New South Wales, Australia

     

    Chatting Up/ Cracking on to Blokes/ Sheilas

    Are you trying to crack on to me? (Are you trying to chat me up?)

    Crikey! You scrub up alright Sheila! (Wow, you look well dressed Madam)

    Check out the t-bar on that chick. ( T-barring is about wearing g-string underwear and comes from the latest fashion of wearing low cut jeans, that often display the underwear beneath)

    She’s a bewt looking sheila. (She’s an attractive woman)

    She bangs like a dunny door (a woman of easy virtue)

    She’s smuggling smarties {(Smarties are Australian M & M’s) to have erect nipples}

    That chick is perving on you Wazza. (to admire someone from the opposite sex)

    There will be no pub kissing in this establishment (pub kissing- to be kissing passionetly in the bar usually whilst drunk and the offending parties should really be in a private room)

    Wazza trying to cut your grass
    Wazza is trying to pick up your girl

    Who are you spading tonight Wazza?
    spading is to do the groundwork to take a girl home

    You’d smash that wouldn’t ya champ? ( you would like to be intimate with that girl wouldn’t you?)

    You’re a spunk luv. (you are very attractive love)

    List of Sexy Australians Male and Female

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    Find Black Cockatoos in Street Talk Savvy's Australian Slang

    The amazing black cockatoo

     

    In the bar

    “It’s always offshore in the pub”

    Beers: most consumed Carlton Draught; formerly it was Victoria Bitter & Carlton Cold Filtered. Other good ones are Cascade, James Boags, Coopers Red & Pale Ale, Tooheys Dry, Eumundi   Warning! Never try Fosters or XXXX & other Queensland beers for fear of death. Australian spirits include Bundaberg Rum. Whilst around Adelaide various regional wines are consumed due to their long tradition of producing some of Australia’s most well known wines like Wolf Blass or Penfolds.

    Australian 375 ml stubbie

    Image via Wikipedia

    Beer gut. I’ve worked hard for my beer gut

    Beer pig- beer lover who also drinks a lot

    Blotto- to be very drunk You’re blotto mate

    Booze- Let’s get on the booze tonight (let’s have a drink/get drunk tonight)

    Bottlo- bottle shop (registered shop where you buy alcohol)

    BYO- bring your own sign in unlicensed restaurants

    Crack open a coldie- to open a beer

    Crack a tinny mate

    Drinker’s elbow
    An injury you get from bending your elbow hwile drinking

    Don’t be a wet blanket Shaz, let’s party!
    A partypooper

    Let’s get pissed-get drunk

    Let’s by some cheap plonk
    cheap alcohol

    Liquid lunch- a lunch that includes a lot of alcohol

    I’m as pissed as a fart- (to be very drunk)

    It’s always offshore in the pub

    It’s beer o’clock

    It’s your shout Wazza
    Shouting is to take a round to buy the alcohol for your group

    Paint the town red- to go out drinking

    Somebody spiked my beer with alcohol

    Skull- drink it out

    Take aways- alcohol bought from a pub to take home

    That bar is chockers (chock a block). (to be full of people)

    Tie one on- to go out drinking

    Vomit- have a bark, chunder

    We were drinking till the cows come home
    Drinking very late

    You’re a born again pisstank

    Aussie Stockman drinking beer

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    That’s Cool

    Beauuiful  beauuuuiful (in Australian the ‘t’ is hardly heard in this word, but if it’s really beautiful it’s beauuuiful)

    Bonzer mate! That’s great mate

    Cool- Understood, agreed, great

    Cool bananas- that’s good

    Corker- really good

    Fully sick mate- really awesome

    Fully sick mate subwoofer mate

    Sweet- that’s great

    I’m a happy little vegemite

    It’s going off- it’s excellent

    It’s all time- the best that can be

    Nice one- Well done

    Siiick- awesome

    That’s grouse! (Victoria only)

    You little ripper mate

    You bloody bewdy mate

    You’re a happy camper- a happy person/soul

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    English: Three Australian Pelicans in Tasmania...

    Australian Pelicans-Image via Wikipedia

    Sayings

    Does that grab you by the short & curlies? ( Is that intersting to you?)

    Flat out like a lizard drinking (to be very busy)

    Go hard or go home

    Haven’t seen ya for yonks Mick
    Not to see someone for a long time

    He’s as mad as a cut snake (completely crazy person)

    He’s like Errol with delicate things. Everything he touches he f*?ks

    I haven’t got a brass razoo (to be completely broke)

    I’m as happy as a pig in shit (to be ecstatic)

    I’m in  like Flynn (to be a sure fire to get what you wanted, i.e a girl)

    I’m so hungry I could eat the crotch out of a low flying duck (to have an extreme case of hunger)

    It’s better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick   (it’s better than the worst case scenario)

    Let’s hit the frog and toad (rhyming slang for road)

    Let’s make like a shepherd & get the flock out of here

    Let’s make like a Russian and Fuckovsky

    Pull your head in!- (stop playing up)

    She’ll be apples (everything will be ok/ is sufficient)

    You’ve got 2 chances: None & Buckley’s (to have no chance at all)

    You must have heard that through the bush telegraph- gossip network

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    The big ram by Street Talk Savvy found in Australian Slang

    The Big Ram another of Australia's large icons

    Having a Laugh

    Crikey, that was close mate

    There’s no flies on me (I’m not at fault/ or the weak link in the chain)

    True blue, dinky di (A true or typical aussie)

    Thunderbox- Toilet

    U beaut Ute- A pick up truck

    Not the full quid

    He’s got a kangaroo loose in the top paddock (someone of low intelligence or crazy)

    He’s wearing budgie smugglers (to be wearing Speedos, on men it looks like they are trying to hide a Budgerigar)

    I got up at sparrow’s fart? (To get up early)

    I come from a land where men are men and many sheep tremble

    Stop telling furphies
    Stop telling lies

    That’s as useful as tits on a bull/ an ashtray on a motorcycle

    Well I’m off like a brides nightie (to be leaving in a hurry)

    Why do you ask 2 dogs? (you ask this question when you don’t know why someone asked the previous question)

    You’re tripping on hard drugs (are you out of your mind)

    You’ve got 2 chances, Buckleys and none
    No chance at all (Buckley’s chance+ no chance)

    You couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery
    You couldn’t organise a root in a brothel

    You bloody  shark biscuit/toast/esky lid/speed hump ( a curse towards a bodyboarder who are not popular amongst surfers)

    You wanna bikkie? (Would you like a biscuit)

    You’ve got as much chance as a one legged man in an arse kicking competition
    You’ve got as much luck trying to push shit uphill with a blunt stick

    You want dim sim?

    Your mother wears army boots

    koala cricket
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    Explain Yourself

    No probs Bob
    Agreed-ok-I’ll do it

    Are you talking to me or chewing on a brick. Either way you’ll lose your teeth

    As ugly as a hat full off arseholes

    Bloody oath mate! (you can say that again)

    Bloody Pom’s:- Damned English people

    Bugger- (Oh damn!)

    Bugger all- nothing at all

    Bugger off!- go away!

    Buggered if I know! To have no idea

    Buggered- to be trashed I’m buggered I’m very tired

    Bullshit! A load of crap

    Bunch of fives- a punch.  Do you want a bunch of fives?

    C- bomb:-You c-hunt! Oh! my god you just dropped the c-bomb
    The c-bomb should never be said around women (because they do like like you referring to their genitals in such anobscene mannerDid you let fluffy out the gate?- Did you Fart?

    Did you just open your lunch box? Did you  just fart?

    Don’t push the envelope- don’t push the issue too far

    Dunno- (I don’t know)

    Easy tiger- Calm down

    Frillnecking- (to show off) That hoon has been frillnecking through the main street of town all day

    F-bomb:- Oh F*#k it! Oh my god, you just dropped the F- bomb

    F@*! you & the camel you rode in on!

    Fudge!
    A polite way of saying the F-bomb

    Get a woolly chook up ya!

    Get a dog up you!

    Get that into you black guts

    Have you got leaky gas pipes?- Did you/have you farted?

    Australian Coat of Arms by Street Talk Savvy as found in Australian Slang

    The Australian coat of arms, these 2 animals the kangaroo and the emu were a good choice because both can't walk backwards

    Hoon- ( a purposely dangerous driver) Bloody hoon! Get off the road

    I can’t go out tonight. I’m skint
    to be broke

    If you had a brain you’d be dangerous

    I’m ropeable!
    Not happy at all

    I’m strapped for cash
    Have little money

    I wasn’t born yesterday/in the last shower.- (I’m not so easily fooled)

    Not happy Jan- (Girls usually say this, as in the Yellow Pages ad where it came from, letting someone know you are not happy with a situation)

    Shazza chucked a wobbly and went home
    a tantrum

    She’ll be right mate
    Everything will be ok

    Shit a brick!
    What a surprise

    Suffer in your own jocks- Suffer in your own underpants
    Bad luck- It’s your problem

    That’s a piece of piss

    Toilet
    I’m going to the loo/dunny/thunderbox

    That’s out at woop woop
    To be a long distance from nowhere

    Watch out or there’ll be biffo!

    We’re not here to f@*! spiders

    What crawled up your arse & died? Why are you in such a bad mood?

    What the? (short for- What the hell is that?)

    You bloody mongrel (not a very nice person)

    You’re having a shocker
    To be in bad form- to be messing up everything you are doing

    You pissant

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    Byron Bay from Broken Head by Street Talk Savvy as found in Australian Slang

    beautiful Byron Bay

     

     

    Weather

    Freo/Fremantle Doctor- a refreshing sea-breeze that cools down a hot summers day in Perth

    It’s so windy it could blow a blue dog off a chain

    It’s so cold it could freeze the balls off a brass monkey

    It’s chilly on the willy (men) & nippy on the pippy (women) / it’s really cold

    It’s nuts off

    Sydney Harbour

    These are nicknames for certain places. They are not as pejorative as the ones excluded, so they can be used without fear of reprisals.

    People or Places

    Translation

    seppo

    American- (rhyming slang for ‘ septic tank, which rhymes with yank)

    Pom

    English (prisoner of her majesty)

    Kiwi

    New Zealander

    Kraut

    German (sauerkraut)

    froggy

    French (frogs legs)

    bananabenders, cane toads

    Queenslanders

    croweaters

    South Australian

    sandgropers

    West Australians

    coathangers, cockroaches

    New South Welshmen

    Top ender

    Northern Territorian

    Gumsuckers, Mexicans

    Victorians

    Taswegian

    Tasmanian

    Kanuk

    Canadian

    Brisvegas, Brizzie

    Brisbane

    Brizzo, Brizzie

    Brisbanite

    The Coast, The Toast

    Gold Coast

    Bundy

    Bundaberg

    The Gong

    Wollongong

    Newy

    Newcastle

    Cooly

    Coolangatta

    Nulla

    Cronulla

    Bra

    Maroubra

     

    Australian roadsigns are of interest because they show animals which are not found in other parts of the world

    typical Australian roadsign

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    Songs

    Down Under- Men at Work

    This one is good it has subtitles in Spanish

    Sounds of Then (This is Australia)-Gangajang

    Songwriter:  (M.Callaghan)

     

    I think I hear the sounds of then,
    And people talking,
    The scenes recalled, by minute movement,
    And songs they fall, from the backing tape.
    That certain texture,that certain smell,

    To lie in sweat, on familiar sheets,
    In brick veneer on financed beds.
    In a room, of silent hardiflex
    That certain texture, that certain smell,
    Brings home the heavy days,
    Brings home the the night time swell,

    Out on the patio wed sit,
    And the humidity wed breathe,
    Wed watch the lightning crack over canefields
    Laugh and think, this is Australia.

    The block is awkward – it faces west,
    With long diagonals, sloping too.
    And in the distance, through the heat haze,
    In convoys of silence the cattle graze.
    That certain texture, that certain beat,
    Brings forth the night time heat.

    Out on the patio wed sit,
    And the humidity wed breathe,
    Wed watch the lightning crack over canefields
    Laugh and think that this is Australia.

    To lie in sweat, on familiar sheets,
    In brick veneer on financed beds.
    In a room of silent hardiflex
    That certain texture, that certain smell,
    Brings forth the heavy days,
    Brings forth the night time sweat
    Out on the patio wed sit,
    And the humidity we’d breathe,
    Wed watch the lightning crack over canefields
    Laugh and think, this is Australia.
    This is Australia etc..

    Uluru-Ayers Rock

    Street Talk- Sounds of Australia Mix

    1.    Men at Work- Down Under
    2.    Cold Chisel- Breakfast at Sweethearts
    3.    Avalanches- Since I left you
    4.    INXS- Don’t Change
    5.    Gangajang- Sounds of Then
    6.    Midnight Oil- Power & the Passion
    7.    INXS- Never Tear Us Apart
    8.    The Easybeats- Friday on My Mind
    9.    The Church- Milky way
    10.   Youth Group- Forever Young
    11.    Powderfinger- My Happiness
    12.    Crowded House- Something so Strong
    13.    Yothu Yindi- Treaty
    14.    Choirboys- Run to Paradise
    15.    Cold Chisel- Khe Sanh
    16.    The Vines- Get Free
    17.    Wolfmother- Woman
    18.     You Am I- Cathy’s Clown
    19.    Jet- Are You Gonna Be My Girl
    20.    John Paul Young- Love is in the Air
    21.    AC/DC- You Shook Me All Night Long
    22.    Daddy Cool- Eagle Rock
    23.    Redgum- I Was Only 19
    24.    Goanna- Solid Rock
    25.    Hoodoo Gurus- Like Wow Wipeout
    26.    TISM- Ol’ Man River (He’ll Never Be)
    27.    Paul Kelly- To Her Door
    28.    The Cruel Sea- Black Stick
    29.    Spiderbait- Shazam
    30.    Nick Cave & the Badseeds- Into My Arms
    31.    Kylie Minogue- Can’t Get You Out of My Head

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    Great Waves by Street Talk Savvy as found in Australian Slang

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2 Responses
  1. Dana says:

    I really had fun learning street talk here, this is very helpful especially for a traveller/ backpacker like me..

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