This post will be updated frequently as I learn new Australian slang
(rule #1 in Oz – abbrev. everything!)
Mozzies = mosquitos
Sunnies = sunglasses
Bogan = redneck
Hire = rent (i.e. xyz is available for hire)
Heaps = lots (they never say lots, it’s always heaps)
Macca’s = McDonald’s (they even say Macca’s in the commercials!)
How’re you going (‘Ow Yeh Goin’) = how’s it going / how’re you doing / how are you
Drink driving = drunk driving (can’t wrap my head around the grammatical logic in that one)
Soz = sorry
Chewies – gum
Boot – trunk of the car
Here are some things I’ve learned about Australia:
Aussies don’t know what you mean when you ask for KD or Kraft Dinner. They only have Easy Mac here! So weird! (UPDATE: I found KD! But it’s not called KD. That’s probably why I couldn’t find it).
Australians don’t celebrate Halloween.
They don’t know what you mean when ask where to find the washroom. It’s “toilet” here.
Bananas cost up to $15/kg!!! We were chatting with a bank teller about this one and she said that if she sees anyone buying bananas, she automatically assumes they’re rich! Apparently it used to be the same price as Canada, but a cyclone wiped out all the banana trees and the prices have been high ever since. (UPDATE: It’s April and banana’s are around $4/kg… Woohoo! And on a good day, they’re under $3/kg)
Bananas are for rich Aussies
K-Mart is very different here (in a good way) – it’s awesome and so cheap! Reminds me of Target in the US. They have Target here too, but it’s different than Target in the US! Confused yet?
Winter for Aussies means “putting on socks,” as quoted by an Australian when we were comparing their winter to ours. Ha!
If you can think of more tid bits to add to this list, let me know! I’ll be adding to it whenever I learn something new.
You might also like:
8 Comments
Subscribe & Follow
The face behind the blog…
Hey there! I'm Marlee and I'm 24. From July 2011 to June 2012 I embarked on a life-changing journey across 13 countries in three continents. Now I'm back in Canada and I can't believe it's over... back to reality! I'm a health-conscious vegetarian, vegan flirt, skincare sampler, beauty junkie, acne fighter, yoga enthusiast, feminist and hopeless giggler who strives to enjoy every last drop life's sweetness. 
It’s “macca’s”, not mackers…
chewies=gum
zebras are zeh-bras, not zee-bras
bonnet=hood of car
boot=trunk of car
budgie smuggler=speedo
rock up=show up/turn up
Thanks Laur! Good ones
Marlee, this is awesome! I am currently living with an Aussie and for the most part, we understand one another. But, there is the occasional time where we both need some form of clarification. So fascinating these Aussie’s!
Yea, it’s really not too hard to understand them, they just have such funny little sayings, it’s great! So cool you’re living with an Aussie! So far, they all seem pretty great
Marlee I don’t even know where to start! hehe You are making me miss Australia terribly. Imagine if you were there when Chels and I were?! That would be fun!
Root = It/doing it/bonking/screwing/
You can imagine how awkward that is for Canadians sporting any Roots clothing, especially when it’s written across the butt! hehe
good post, added you to my RSS reader.
Haha! I used to date an american and while I was over there they always made fun of me for saying ‘air con’ instead of ‘A-C’.
That’s so weird! I say both equally. I don’t think I have a preference between the two. I might even say air-con more. Maybe it’s just those silly Americans! Haha