Language Guide — Understanding Strine
Australian Slang — The Most Important Words
Aussies abbreviate everything — names, places, words. If something has more than two syllables, it gets shortened and ends with an "-o" or "-ie". This is not a sign of laziness, but of affection.
Greetings & Basics
| Australian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| G'day! | Hello! (ubiquitous) |
| How ya going? | How are you? (Response: "Good, thanks") |
| No worries | No problem / You're welcome / Please (universal response) |
| Mate | Buddy/Friend (used for everyone) |
| She'll be right | It'll be fine / No need to worry |
| Ta | Thanks (informal) |
| Cheers | Thanks / Bye / Cheers (depending on context) |
| Reckon | Think / Believe ("I reckon it'll rain") |
Abbreviations
| Australian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Barbie | Barbecue / Grilling |
| Brekkie | Breakfast |
| Servo | Gas station (service station) |
| Esky | Cooler (indispensable in the Australian summer) |
| Thongs | Flip-flops (!!! NOT underwear — this mistake is famous) |
| Ute | Pickup truck |
| Stubbie | Small beer bottle (375 ml) |
| Bottle-o | Liquor store (bottle shop) |
| Maccas | McDonald's (officially renamed in Australia!) |
| Chrissy | Christmas |
| Ambo | Ambulance / Paramedic |
| Tradie | Tradesman |
| Sunnies | Sunglasses |
Advanced Slang
| Australian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fair dinkum | Genuine / Sincere / Really? |
| Stoked | Totally excited |
| Heaps | Very much ("heaps good" = very good) |
| Chunder | To vomit |
| Bogan | Roughly: Redneck (but sometimes affectionately meant in Australia) |
| Woop woop | Middle of nowhere / Outback |
| Piss | Alcohol / Beer ("going on the piss" = going drinking) |
| Bloody oath | Absolutely! / Indeed! |
| Sickie | Sick day (often faked: "chuck a sickie") |
| Snag | Sausage (sausage on the barbie) |
| Daggy | Uncool / Old-fashioned (but endearing) |
| Flat out like a lizard drinking | Extremely busy |
Tipp
The golden rule: If an Australian insults you, he probably likes you. If he's overly polite, he probably does NOT like you. Australian humor is brutally direct — don't take it personally, and give it back!
Aboriginal Words in Everyday Life
Many words you hear daily in Australia come from Aboriginal languages — most Australians don't even know this. Over 80% of Australian place names have Aboriginal origins.
Everyday Words from Aboriginal Languages
| Word | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Kangaroo | Guugu Yimithirr (Queensland) | "gangurru" — large hopping animal |
| Koala | Dharug (Sydney region) | "gula" — doesn't drink (koalas obtain water from eucalyptus leaves) |
| Boomerang | Dharug | Throwing stick |
| Billabong | Wiradjuri (NSW) | Dead river arm / standing water |
| Budgerigar | Kamilaroi (NSW) | "gijirrigaa" — good to eat (budgie) |
| Barramundi | Various Aboriginal languages | Large river fish |
| Wombat | Dharug | Burrowing marsupial |
| Yakka | Yagara (Brisbane region) | Work ("hard yakka" = hard work) |
Important Place Names
| Place | Aboriginal Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Uluru | Uluru (Anangu) | Sacred place / Shady place |
| Kata Tjuta | Kata Tjuta (Anangu) | Many heads |
| Canberra | Ngunnawal | Meeting place |
| Wooloomooloo (Sydney) | Gadigal | Young kangaroo |
| Parramatta (Sydney) | Dharug | Place where the eels lie |
| Bondi | Dharug | Water breaking over rocks |
Useful Phrases for Travelers
| Situation | What You Say |
|---|---|
| Greeting | G'day! How ya going? |
| Thanking | Thanks, mate! / Cheers! |
| Agreement | No worries! / Too easy! |
| Ordering Beer | Can I get a schooner of [beer]? (NSW: 425ml) / A pot of [beer] (VIC: 285ml) |
| Ordering Coffee | Flat white, please / Long black, ta |
| Ordering Food | I'll have the [dish], cheers |
| Farewell | See ya! / Catch ya later! |
| Enthusiasm | That's heaps good! / Stoked! |
Tipp
Beer sizes absurdly vary from state to state: A "Schooner" is 425 ml in NSW, 285 ml in SA. A "Pot" is 285 ml in VIC and QLD. A "Pint" is 570 ml everywhere — if in doubt, just order "a pint" and you're on the safe side.
War dieses Kapitel hilfreich?
