Speak like a local – try some Australian slang!

Outback signs

January 26 is Australia Day!  On this day, we all celebrate how lucky we are to live in Australia, with a great lifestyle and a safe and beautiful country.

When you study English, you learn the ‘correct’ way to speak, but in every English speaking country the locals also use an informal way of speaking called slang.   Australian slang is unique, and we love to shorten words!  Here is some Australian slang/colloquialisms for you to learn.

Vocabulary  Meaning Example
 
Greetings
G’Day Good day “G’day, nice to meet you!”
How are you going? How are you? “How you going?”
How’s it going? What is happening in your life? “How’s it going?”
 
Saying Goodbye
See ya later See you later/next time “See you later – I’m going home”
Other words
Aussie Australian “He’s an Aussie”
True blue Very loyal, expressing Australian values “She’s true blue”
Mate Friend – can be male or female “G’day, mate!” / “Thanks mate!”
No worries that’s ok/you’re welcome “No worries, happy to help”
She’ll be right It will be ok “She’ll be right – you’ll get there ok”
Flat out very busy “I was flat out a work today”
Spud potato “Do you like mashed spud?”
Snag sausage “Throw a snag on the barbie”
Shortened words
Servo service station/gas station “I’m going to the servo to get fuel”
Devo devastated “I was devo that I missed the party”
Brekkie breakfast “She had bacon and eggs for brekkie”
Barbie barbeque “Come over for a barbie tonight!”
Footy football “Let’s go to the footy match tomorrow”
Sunnies sunglasses “I love your new sunnies!”
Cuppa cup of tea “Would you like a cuppa?”
Sanga sandwich “He ate a Vegemite sanga”
Arvo afternoon “See you tomorrow arvo!”

Try writing a conversation using as many of these slang words as possible.

Here are some links that you may also enjoy.
https://youtu.be/f3SpO71RNhg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfmHPF5qoV0&list=PLhjB73Ab_RdnPW6_5Mr4zIfBullWPqE_Z

By the way, here are the answers to the anagrams in our last English tips blog:

 CAT = ACT

EAT = TEA

STATE = TASTE

NIGHT = THING

SILENT = ENLIST

How did you do – did you get all of them correct?