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Ever wanted to know how to speak – or at least, understand – the Australian language? By popular request, here’s the list of Aussie words and the American translations that were featured in our recent video. These are just a handful of more than a thousand words than are commonly used down under – they are unique, strange and definitely a bit of fun.
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Australian (Aussie) Words & American Translations
G’day Owyagoin’ = Hello, how are you?
Winnebago = Common broad term used for a motorhome or recreational vehicle (RV) regardless of the actual brand
Caravan = Travel trailer
Caravan Park = Campground or RV Park
Reverse Park = Parallel park
Gutter = Kerb
Bikkie = Cookie
Lollies = Candy
Fairy Floss = Cotton candy
Fizzy Drink = Soda pop
Snags = Sausages
Pluto Pup = Corn dog
Thongs = Flip flops
G-String = thong, underwear
Fortnight = 14 days / 2 weeks
Maccas = McDonalds
Galah = Fool
Tinny = Can of beer
Tinny = A small, aluminum boat
Tinny = Lucky
Dag = An unstylish person
Grog = Alcohol
Yobbo = Young thug
Drongo = Idiot
Garbo = Garbage truck driver
Cossies = Women’s swimsuit
Boardies = Men’s swimsuit, boardshorts
Budgie Smugglers = Men’s Speedos
Goog = Egg
Full as a Goog = Very full (of food)
Rellos = Relatives
Lations = Relations
Blind = Very drunk
Brekkie = Breakfast
Sickie (as in chucking a sickie) = to take a sick day off work
Telly = Television
Barbie = Barbecue Grill
Sparky = Electrician
Pokies = Slot Machines
Tucker = Food
Plonk = Cheap wine
Sticky Beak = being overly curious in other people’s business
Ratbag = Trouble maker
Pash = Passionate kiss
Pash Rash = Abrasion, red rash from kissing someone with stubble
Pearler = Really good or great
Trackie Dacks = Sweat pants
Mozzies = Mosquitoes
Fairdinkum = a true statement
Bonza = Something is really great
Rego = Vehicle registration
Shonky = Of poor or low quality
Bodgy = Also of poor or low quality
True Blue = Original or authentic
Crust (as in makes a good crust) = Earns a good living
Gob = Mouth
Schnoz = Nose
Dunny = Restroom, toilet
Loo = Also a Toilet
Straya = Short for Australia
Crikey! = An Aussie exclamation
Strewth = An Aussie exclamation, meaning “it’s the truth”
Sanga = Sandwich
Cuppa = Cup of tea or coffee
Tea = Dinner
Too Right Mate = That’s right
Blue = Police Officer
Blue = Argument or fight
Blue = Mistake
Blue = Red haired person
Ranga = Derogatory term for a red haired person
Ridgy Didge = Original
Woop Woop = Middle of nowhere
Aussie Salute = Brushing away flies with your hand
Chinwag = Conversation
Servo = Fuel/petrol station
Bottlo = Liquor storeChockas = Very full
Chock a block = Also very full, even more full
Pie = Meat pie or a fruit pie like apple pie, but definitely not a pizza pie
Flannos = Flanelette clothing
Carpark = Parking lot or parking garage
Footpath = Sidewalk
Bushwalk = Going for a hike
Avo = Avocado
Arvo = Afternoon
S’arvo = This afternoon
Ute = Open backed utility vehicle like a pickup truck
Ambo = Ambulance Officer or a Paramedic
Anklebiters = Little children
Dummy = Pacifier
Average = Below average, subpar, actually pretty bad
Barney = Argument or fight
Bell = Phone call
Blower = Telephone
Dill = Someone not very bright
Pregnant = Preggo
Postman = Postie
Lipstick = Lippy
Chardy = Chardonnay
Cab Sav = Cabernet Sauvignon
Bingle = Car accident
Ace = Excellent
Ang on = wait a moment
Bludger = Lazy person
Cactus = Useless, broken
Chewy = Chewing gum
Chook = Chicken
Cark it = to die
Esky = Ice cooler
Fossick = to search for something
Good Onya = Good for you
Larrikin = Mischievous person
Chateau Cardboard = boxed wine
Hoon = Fast reckless driver
Prang= Car accident
Prawn = Shrimp
Rissole = Hamburger patty
Speedo = Speedomoeter
Bonnet = Front hood
Boot = Trunk
Pelmet = Window valance
Stubby = Bottle of beer
Stubbies = Short shorts
Ratbag = Troublemaker
Ta = Thank you
Tar = Asphalt
Top Drop = Good beer or wine
Slab = Case of beer
Jumper = Sweater
Whinge = To complain
Yank = American (sometimes called a Septic Tank in rhyming slang)
Yonks ago = A long time ago
Hubby = Husband
Missus = Wife
Clocked = Get caught speeding
Hairdryer = Stationery police radar gun
Juice = Fuel, petrol
K’s = Kilometers
Shopping trolley = Shopping cart
Shopping trolley = Small hatchback car
Stack = Crash
Anchors = Brakes
Rubber = Eraser
Rubber = Tires
Rubber = Condom
Hooray = Goodbye
Hooroo = Goodbye
Hit the Frog and Toad = Goodbye, it’s time to hit the road
Bumbag = Fanny pack. Fanny is an intimate female body part, so the term ‘fanny pack’ is not recommended to be used when down under (pardon the pun) as it’s considered a rude word.
Sample Paragraph of Aussie words from above
While most Aussies wouldn’t speak like this, we understand exactly what it means, though it would be completely confusing to just about everyone else.
So we jumped in the Winnebago to head to the caravan park, hubby kept an eye on the speedo as he hooned down the freeway and stopped at the servo to fill er up with juice, passed a bingle with an ambo along the way while the missus had a whinge about the drongo who caused the prang. Marc jumped on the anchors when he saw a bluey with a hairdryer so he wouldnt get clocked on the freeway doing a hundred k’s. He pulled up at the caravan park and did a little ripper of a reverse park while Jewels pulled a stubbie and a chardy from the esky and got the barbie started with a few snags and rissoles for tea.
4 thoughts on “Australian Words & American Translations”
Ahmachizit=How much is it
LOVE IT!
Happy birthday, Julie! Have a pearler of a day filled with great tea and top drop as well as many pashes on Saturday and a memorable day in Orlando. Ta for sharing.
Sonia and David, that is gold. Ta muchly!