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People from other countries always say that the English language is the most difficult to learn as it differs from the United Kingdom to the United States and then to the land down-under here in Australia. The lingo of the Aussie is said to perplex many a foreigner, particularly our Aussie slang.
I have a French Canadian brother-in-law who moved here years ago and he is still coming to grips with Aussie slang. I remember when I first visited him and my sister in Canada and he kept asking my sister for translation. For example, I asked if there were any ‘bickies’ in the cupboard to have with my ‘cuppa’ and he looked bewildered!
So I guess the first rules in Aussie lingo is that we have a tendency to add either an ‘y’ or an ‘o’ to the end of words. For example:
Aggro – aggressive Bicky – biscuit or cookie
Arvo – afternoon Ciggy – cigarette
Compo – compensation Cocky – Cockatoo or Farmer
Dero – derelict Coldy – a cold beer
Garbo – Garbage Removal worker Cossy – a swimming costume
Journo – Journalist Footy – Football
Rego – registration Pressy – present or gift
Smoko – coffee break Lippy – lipstick
Yobbo – Australian male Sicky – sick leave
Cuppa – cup of tea Chrissy – Christmas
We also like to put the word ‘ay’ at the end of a sentence, i.e: “It’s a nice day – ay”? Or we like to say “you know” a lot because we cannot articulate at times!
Some common Aussie slang is:
Shit-faced – meaning very drunk or pissed
Rooted – meaning exhausted or something that is completely irreparable
Dobber – meaning an informative or tell-tale
Wowzer or Knee Driller – meaning a religious person
Wanker or Tool – meaning a loser
Fruit Loop or Whacko – meaning someone who is mentally challenged
Dero – meaning a homeless person
Bogan or Westie – meaning a person who is from the West or the country of low socio-economic circumstances
Poser – meaning a person who boasts or show-off a lot.
Pig – meaning a Police Officer
Abbo or Coon – meaning an indigenous Australian (a very derogatory term)
Sheila – A girl
Some translations from American to Aussie:
THEY SAY | WE SAY |
Diaper | Nappy |
Ass or Butt | Bum |
Bum | Dero |
Root | Bag |
Screw | Root |
Chick | Sheila |
Hi | Gidday |
Cookie | Bicky |
Biscuit | Scone |
Trailer | Caravan |
Fall | Autumn |
Purse | Handbag |
Buddy | Mate |
Drunk | Pissed |
Fanny Pack | Bum Bag |
Flip Flop | Thong |
Thong | G String |
Kathy was a 50 something year old when she started up this blog 6 years ago, but has since turned over another decade and is now in her early 60s. She is married with two adult children and lives on the Tweed Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Kathy enjoys living life to the fullest and loves to keep fit and active by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some of her interests include reading, photography, travelling, cooking and blogging! Kathy works part-time as a freelance writer but her real passion is travelling and photographing brilliant destinations both within Australia and overseas and writing about it.
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Rae Hilhorst
February 12, 2014Very clever well done xxxx
kathymarris
February 12, 2014Thanks Rae, I know how confusing our use of slang can be for people from other countries. Just trying to clarify things a bit!
Rae Hilhorst
February 12, 2014People always looked at me a bit funny when I asked for a Chilli Bin (ESKY)
Kathy
February 12, 2014I must admit I have never heard of a Chilli Bin, but I think I could work it out if I really thought about it!
Pinky Poinker
February 12, 2014Funny! My in-laws wrote an entire book about this. I haven’t heard “poser” for years! I’m going to have to resurrect that one!
Kathy
February 13, 2014There would be an entire book in Aussie Slang for sure. I suppose the word ‘poser’ would equate to the word ‘try hard’ these days. I reckon she’ll be right mate!
Johanna
February 13, 2014Love this – made me chuckle! Something I should definitely have on the bedside table for visiting ‘rellies from England :)
Kathy
February 13, 2014A lot of visitors from overseas find our Aussie Slang a bit of a challenge for sure. Maybe I should write an entire book about the subject!