Every country has developed an informal or \u201ccommon\u201d version of their native language known as \u201cslang\u201d. When you look into how a country plays with their words, you will find it is quite a reflection on that nation\u2019s culture. Australians are renowned across the world for their friendly attitude and easy-going lifestyle. Letters are often dropped during their pronunciation, and words are abbreviated whenever possible. Their slang vocabulary is full of colourful metaphors and hilarious wisecracks, far removed from the Queen\u2019s \u201cproper English\u201d. The fast-talking, wise-cracking Aussies like to say it as it is; and do so in the shortest number of syllables possible!<\/p>\n
According to the Australian National Dictionary Centre in Canberra, there are around 100 terms in Australian Slang, but where did they come from?<\/p>\n
The majority of Aussie slang originates from the underclasses. It has also been known as the language of the criminal underworld in England, brought to Australia on the First Fleet of white settlers in 1788.<\/p>\n
Cockney Rhyming Slang has also made its way into the Aussie vocabulary, with popular terms like \u201cchunder\u201d and \u201cCaptain Cook\u201d actually originating from Australian Rhyming Slang.<\/p>\n
Beach culture has been a big influencer in Australian Slang as 85% of the population live within 50km of the coast. The people from the poorer inland regions being considered \u201cbogans\u2019- first recorded in a surf magazine to describe people who don\u2019t belong on the beach.<\/p>\n
The indigenous Australian population have perhaps created the most innovative versions of the English language but these are slow to make their way into mainstream Australian Slang. The Aboriginal Dharug word for swimming \u2013 \u201cbogey\u201d is widely used to describe waterholes across the country now known as Bogey Holes.<\/p>\n
Arvo \u2013 Afternoon<\/p>\n
Barbie – Barbecue<\/p>\n
Bathers – Swimsuit<\/p>\n
Bottle-O – Liquor Shop: a place to buy alcohol<\/p>\n
Brekky – Breakfast<\/p>\n
Crook – Being ill<\/p>\n
Dag \u2013 Nerd or Geek<\/p>\n
Devo \u2013 Devastated<\/p>\n
Drongo \u2013 A fool<\/p>\n
Dunny \u2013 Toilet<\/p>\n
Durry \u2013 Cigarette<\/p>\n
Esky \u2013 A cool box<\/p>\n
Facey \u2013 Facebook<\/p>\n
Gnarly \u2013 Awesome<\/p>\n
Goon \u2013 Wine in a box<\/p>\n
Maccas \u2013 McDonalds<\/p>\n
Mozzie \u2013 Mosquito<\/p>\n
No Drama\/ no worries\/ no Wuckas \u2013 No problem \/ it\u2019s ok<\/p>\n
Runners \u2013 Trainers<\/p>\n
Servo \u2013 Service Station<\/p>\n
Snag \u2013 Sausage<\/p>\n
Stoked \u2013 Happy<\/p>\n
Straya \u2013 Australia<\/p>\n
Stubby \u2013 A bottle of beer<\/p>\n
Sunnies \u2013 Sunglasses<\/p>\n
Swag \u2013 Single bed and tent combo<\/p>\n
Tinny \u2013 a can of beer or a small boat<\/p>\n
Thongs \u2013 Flip flops<\/p>\n
There are many misconceptions regarding words that\u2019s are notoriously regarded as Australian, actually originating from somewhere else:<\/p>\n
Another popular misconception is the definition of \u201cpom\u201d which is often used to describe foreigners to Australia by the natives. This was widely believed to be used incorrectly as POM was thought to stand for \u201cPrisoner Of Mother (England)\u201d and therefore makes the Australians the \u201cpoms\u201d. The fact is the earliest origins of the word derive from Australian Rhyming Slang; \u201cJimmy Grant\u201d, \u201cPummy Grant\u201d, \u201cPommy Grant\u201d and pomegranate were all used to describe the immigrants and was eventually abbreviated to \u201cpom\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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