G’day! When I first landed in Australia five years ago, I thought my English was pretty spot on. Well, crikey, was I in for a surprise! Let me share what I’ve learned about Aussie slang and help you avoid the confused nodding I did during my first few months here.
Essential Aussie Greetings and Responses
How to Say Hello
- “G’day” – The classic Australian greeting
- “How ya going?” – Don’t say “I’m going by car!” (My embarrassing first response)
- “Hey mate” – Casual but perfectly acceptable in most situations
Common Responses
- “Not bad, yourself?” – Which means, I am good, how about you?
- “Yeah, good” – Standard response to “How ya going?”
- “Beauty!” – When something’s great
- “No worries” – Our version of “you’re welcome” or “it’s fine”
Everyday Aussie Slang You’ll Actually Use
Time and Place
- “Arvo” – Afternoon (“Let’s meet this arvo”)
- “Servo” – Service station/gas station
- “Maccas” – McDonald’s (Yes, even business meetings happen here!)
- “CBD” – City center/downtown
Food and Drink
- “Brekkie” – Breakfast
- “Snag” – Sausage
- “Cuppa” – Cup of tea
- “Bottle-o” – Liquor store
- “Flat white” – Not just coffee, but a way of life here
Work-Related
- “Heaps” – Lots/many (“There’s heaps of work to do”)
- “Chuck” – To throw/give (“Chuck us that report”)
- “Fair dinkum” – Genuine/real deal
- “Keen” – Enthusiastic/eager (“I’m keen to start the project”)
Professional Settings: When to Use Slang
Office-Appropriate Phrases
- “No dramas” – No problem/it’s fine
- “Give it a burl” – Give it a try
- “Touch base” – To meet/connect
- “Reckon” – Think/suppose (“I reckon that’ll work”)
Client Meeting Tips
Here’s something I wish someone had told me – Aussies often use casual language to make others feel comfortable. Don’t be shocked if your CEO starts a meeting with “How ya going, mate?”
Regional Variations
Western Australia
- “Grouse” – Excellent/awesome
- “Bloody oath” – That’s true/absolutely
Queensland
- “Beaut” – Great/fantastic
- “Ripper” – Really great
New South Wales
- “Deadset” – Absolutely true
- “Fully sick” – Really good/awesome
Common Mistakes to Avoid
My Embarrassing Moments
- Thinking “thong” meant underwear (they’re flip-flops!)
- Responding to “How ya going?” with a detailed life story
- Being too formal in casual situations
- Someone told me I look SICK, but they meant I look good
Cultural Context
When to Use What
- Professional meetings: Still casual but clear
- Coffee catch-ups: Full Aussie slang acceptable
- Email communication: Mix of professional and casual
- Client presentations: Moderate use of Aussie terms
Tips for Integration
Daily Practice
Start with these basic replacements:
- “Thanks” → “Cheers”
- “That’s great” → “Beauty”
- “See you later” → “Catch ya”
- “Of course” → “No worries”
Remember, mate, it’s not about perfectly mimicking the accent or using every slang word you learn. It’s about understanding the context and feeling comfortable in conversations. Start small, maybe with “no worries” instead of “you’re welcome,” and build from there.
Pro Tips
- Listen more than you speak initially
- Don’t force slang – let it come naturally
- When in doubt, “yeah, nah” (no) or “nah, yeah” (yes) usually works
- Keep it casual but read the room
Welcome to speaking Australian English, mate – you’re going to have a ripper time!
