When I moved to Australia, I quickly learned that Australians speak a very different type of English! Here are some of my favorite Australian words and phrases so you can keep up with the Aussies:

Barbie = BBQ/Grill

Biscuit = Cracker, buttermilk biscuits, and half of the other food in this country.

Bloke = A man

Bogan = Redneck

Brekkie = Breakfast

Chip = French Fry

Chip = Potato Chips (ex. “Can I have some chips, but not chips, but chips?”)

Esky = Cooler

Fairy Floss = Cotton Candy

G’day = Hello

Heaps = Lots of (ex. “Thanks heaps!”, “There are heaps of Bogans from Logan!”)

How you going? = How are you doing?

I couldn’t be bothered = I don’t want to deal with the inconvenience

Kiwi = A person from New Zealand

Lollies = All kinds of candy

Maccas = McDonalds

Mate = friend

Oz = Australia

Petrol = Gas

Pissed = Drunk

Reckon = I think (ex. “I reckon we should go shopping today”, “You reckon some kangaroo sounds good for Brekkie?”)

Root = A very bad word

Servo = Gas Station

Thongs = Flip Flops

Togs = Bathing Suit

Truck = 18 Wheeler

True Blue = Patriotic

Ute = Truck

Vegemite = Devil’s Food (but really…)

Congratulations! You are now an expert in Australian Slang. Don’t be surprised if they shorten your name and add an “o” at the end. Australians like to shorten everything. My name is often “Liv-o” or “Texas” in Australia. Yeehaw!