Aussie Translations
Some of our Aussie slang gets a little confusing for visitors, to put it mildly. In fact, even for other Aussies at times. Because this is such a large, sparsely-populated country, you often find differences in language as you travel from state to state. You won’t come across many ocker terms in the cities – but it can nevertheless get puzzling.As a start, here are some of the most common, and most confusing, Aussie-isms.
| Too right | I agree |
| Bloody hell! | Oh dear |
| Bloody Oath! | You’re absolutely correct |
| How are ya? | (regional) Hello |
| Mate | Friend, complete stranger, anything in between |
| Maaaate | (pretty much anything) |
| Arse | Ass (the non-donkey kind) |
| Grouse | (regional) Great |
| Crikey! | Oh my goodness, there’s a crocodile! |
| Bugger! | Oh dear |
| No worries | You’re welcome, or Don’t worry about it |
| Barbie | A barbeque. Or a plastic doll. |
| Dunny | Toilet, washroom, amenities, whatever you want to call it |
| Roo | Kangaroo |
| Snag | A sausage. Or something underwater, like a log, that a boat might get stuck on. |
| Pissed | (present tense) Angry. Or drunk. Or both. |
Aussie Phrasebook
English: Good morning, how are you?
Aussie: G’day mate, how’s it hangin’?
English: Excuse me, where might I find a toilet?
Aussie: Hey mate, can you point me to the dunnies?
English: I wish to buy 6 sausages and some bread.
Aussie: Half-a-dozen snags and some buns thanks mate.
English: I appear to be slightly tipsy.
Aussie: Maaaate… I think I’m pissed.
Awesome! The one that I find hardest to explain to non-Australians is the meaning of (and difference between) “yeah nah” and “nah yeah”
[...] Aussie Translations – on the Aussie Bloggers blog. [...]
When I was travelling years ago I found myself saying ‘Bonza’ – translation is ‘excellent’. I’ve never said it before or since and I think it was a word used a long time ago and not so much now. I think this is essential reading for anyone travelling to Australia.
Try explaining “root” to Americans. Remind them its definitely not something you should do at a sporting event in Australia.
Adding on….
Chook: chicken
U-ee: U-turn
Cossie: swimwear
Shout: to buy a round of drinks – “it’s my shout”
VB: Victoria Bitter beer!
And there’s always those little treasure like:
“The ducks nuts…”
“Struth!”
“… be buggered!
“Nick off Sunshsine!”
“Root!” always had me laughing when I watched my Aussie mates trying to explain this to American sailors… lol