Lost in translation: How to speak Aussie slang

1.  Wherever possible, shorten nouns and add an “ee” to the end of the word
   E.g. Presents become pressies, tracksuit pants are trackies, sunglasses, you guessed it, sunnies and if you’re bitten by a mosquito at a barbeque. Aint nobody got time for that. You were bitten by a mozzie at a barbie.
2.  When you don’t add an ‘ee’ add an “o” to the end of the word
   E.g. You saw an ambulance at the petrol (service) station after you went to the liquor store. Correction, mate. You saw an ambo at the servo after you went to the bottle-o.
3.  Slow it down, and imagine you are sitting on the couch talking to a mate. Aussies are laid back, and our conversational tone and pace reflects this.
4.  Channel Aussie legends Crocodile Dundee or Steve Irwin at all times.

Aussie lingo to add to your vocab

• G’day mate = hello friend
• Fair dinkum = it’s the truth
• You beauty = that’s great
• Better hit the frog and toad = better get going
• Flat out like a lizard drinking = very busy
• Bog in and have some tucker = eat dinner
• What a stinker of a day = it’s a hot day
• I reckon! = absolutely
• Take a squiz at this = have a look

Put your Aussie slang into practice in Queensland

1. As the Pet Shop Boys would sing- Go West! And grab a coldie (beer) at the Birdsville Hotel in Outback Queensland
2. No prior koalifications necessary to get up close and steal a cuddle from our friendly marsupials at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
3. Spend a day with a local Aboriginal tour guide in the Daintree Rainforest, sample some tucker and learn about indigenous culture and traditions with Walkabout Cultural Adventures
4. Just keep swimming along with Dory, Nemo and Crush as you explore over 345,000km of the world-heritage listed Great Barrier Reef
5. Crikey! Visit the playground of Steve Irwin and his family and catch a croc show in the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo.

A typical Aussie conversation

Sheila = Woman
Bloke = Man

Sheila: G’day mate
Translation: Hello friend

Bloke: Fair dinkum, I haven’t seen you in yonks!
Translation: Wow, I haven’t seen you in ages

Sheila: I reckon! I’ve been flat out like a lizard drinking
Translation: I agree, I have been so busy.

Bloke: Struth, you should come over for a barbie, a chinwag and a few coldies on Saturday arvo.
Translation: My goodness, you should come to my place for a barbeque, a chat, and some beers on Saturday afternoon.

Sheila: You beauty. It’ll be a stinker of a day. Need me to grab a slab from the bottle-o?
Translation: Sounds great! It will be a very hot day. Need me to pick up some beers from the liquor store?

Bloke: Nah mate, the eski’s chockers, but bring your togs.
Translation: No thank you, the fridge is full, but bring your swimming costume.

Sheila: Ripper! Better hit the frog and toad
Translation: Fantastic. I best keep moving.

Bloke: Yeah get a riggle on. Give us a bell when you’re on the way. Catch ya.
Translation: Yes, you better keep moving. Call me on the phone when you are on your way. See you later.

Sheila: No wuckers, Hoo Roo
Translation: Not a worry, I will do that. Goodbye

The next step

Practice makes perfect! You’re now well equipped to knock the khakis off the Irwins with your impressive lingo skills. So throw on a cork hat and slide into some pluggers (also known as thongs, jandals or flip-flops) and venture into Queensland’s great outdoors to give it a go. What do you reckon?

This post was originally published in 2012 and was updated on 25 January 2018.