Australian Language Lesson: Aussie Slang
August 24th 2006 00:01
Australian Language Lesson: Aussie Slang
This here is a practical use of Australian language. You won’t learn useless phrases like “Sanga” or “Hey, let’s go to Adelaide” here.
Much of the slang you hear in Neighbours is scarcely used in real Australian life. The writers often use archaic phrases on purpose as they have the foreign audience in mind. In the real world, a lot of American-born slang is used (Cool, Awesome, Crap, You suck). Much of the older Australian slang like “Cobber”, “Fair Dinkum” or “She’ll be apples” will be used scarcely by the younger generations and only to be ironic. Today you’ll learn some exciting words you can use every single day,
Actually Used Slang:
- "I’m good/I’m right"
You can say this when refusing something being offered to you.
“Would you like some more dripping?”
“I’m right, thanks.”
I didn’t know this was an Australian thing until I was talking with an American and they pointed it out. I wasn’t even aware that I said it.
- "G’day"
Older generations use it a lot more but it still exists. “Hey” is probably used as much, if not more, than “G’day” these days. A lot of people are quite anal about the Americanisation of the younger Australian generations and their use of “Hey” over “G'day” is a often starting point.
- "Fair enough"
It’s such a versatile phrase, it can be used in almost every situation. It can function as a neutral yet friendly acknowledgement to any statement. It’s important to have a bit of a rising intonation at the end or else you’ll sound abrupt and “un-Australian”.
“I’m so hungry!”
“Fair enough”
“You’re a tool!”
“Fair enough”
- "Tool"
A wanker
- "Maccas"
McDonalds
- "Unco"
“Unco” is short for uncoordinated, you use it to describe someone clumsy.
(After watching someone trip)
“Unco!”
(Watching women’s gymnastics)
“I couldn’t do that! I’m such an unco.”
- "Pov/Povo"
Like with “unco”, it’s the shortening of a word: “poverty”. Young folk say it when they are lacking in funds. In dissecting its origin I never realised how un-PC it is, oh well.
“Hey, wanna go to Maccas?”
“Can’t, I’m too pov.”
“Lets go pay for excessive mark-ups at General Pants Co.”
“I’m so povo today, sorry”
- "Root"
This can be a transitive verb meaning “to have sex with” or a noun, “a root”, to mean “sex”
“Fancy a root?”
“Did you root him/her?”
“I need a root”
This is pretty much only used in certain phrases, most foreigners tend to misuse it. E.g. “I hope you get lots of root.”
- "Bloody"
A popular quantifier, like “very” but with more emphasis and it’s very casual.
“You’re bloody stupid!” (Me to Jorge Bec)
“Damn my bloody bloody hands” (Lady McBeth)
- "Pretty"
Australians use this word as a quantifier a lot more than other countries. It’s not as strong as “Bloody”. It translates best to “quite”
“She’s pretty!”
“She’s ugly!”
“She’s pretty ugly!”
- "Dodgy"
You use this to describe a location that seems slummy or suspicious.
“Kings Cross? That place is pretty dodgy!”
Also used with an object or food looking to be in poor condition or unreliable.
“Those eggs look a bit dodgy, the culture with talking inhabitants living in the membrane is a dead giveaway”
- "It’s a hole!"
Describing a location of inferior quality:
“Canberra’s a hole.”
“The University of Western Sydney is a hole.”
- "A Random"
This is a word we use instead of saying "stranger", it's used more frequently though.
"That random's checking you out!"
"Argh I forgot my pen! I'll have to ask a random for one."
- "Massive"
This can be an adjective for "AWESOME" or also it's used in front of a noun to strengthen it.
"How was the party last night?
"It was MASSIVE"
"Don't be such a MASSIVE tool."
Australians also have the tendancy to shorten everything, it's most evident at university.
I have to go to my psyc tute, I didn't do the prep so i'll go to Fisher and do it now.
Slang Used 10 Years Ago
These words were once commonly used not so long ago, some are still used but their popularity has trickled away.
"Ace!" – Cool!
“Ace of Base are bloody ace!”
"S***house!" – Sucks!
“Ace of Base are totally s***house!”
"Festy!" – Gross!
“Warm milk is festy!”
"Suck eggs!" – Sucked in!
Don't be a massive tool, add a bloody comment with some other ace Aussie slang...
This here is a practical use of Australian language. You won’t learn useless phrases like “Sanga” or “Hey, let’s go to Adelaide” here.
Much of the slang you hear in Neighbours is scarcely used in real Australian life. The writers often use archaic phrases on purpose as they have the foreign audience in mind. In the real world, a lot of American-born slang is used (Cool, Awesome, Crap, You suck). Much of the older Australian slang like “Cobber”, “Fair Dinkum” or “She’ll be apples” will be used scarcely by the younger generations and only to be ironic. Today you’ll learn some exciting words you can use every single day,
Actually Used Slang:
- "I’m good/I’m right"
You can say this when refusing something being offered to you.
“Would you like some more dripping?”
“I’m right, thanks.”
I didn’t know this was an Australian thing until I was talking with an American and they pointed it out. I wasn’t even aware that I said it.
- "G’day"
Older generations use it a lot more but it still exists. “Hey” is probably used as much, if not more, than “G’day” these days. A lot of people are quite anal about the Americanisation of the younger Australian generations and their use of “Hey” over “G'day” is a often starting point.
- "Fair enough"
It’s such a versatile phrase, it can be used in almost every situation. It can function as a neutral yet friendly acknowledgement to any statement. It’s important to have a bit of a rising intonation at the end or else you’ll sound abrupt and “un-Australian”.
“I’m so hungry!”
“Fair enough”
“You’re a tool!”
“Fair enough”
- "Tool"
A wanker
- "Maccas"
McDonalds
- "Unco"
“Unco” is short for uncoordinated, you use it to describe someone clumsy.
(After watching someone trip)
“Unco!”
(Watching women’s gymnastics)
“I couldn’t do that! I’m such an unco.”
- "Pov/Povo"
Like with “unco”, it’s the shortening of a word: “poverty”. Young folk say it when they are lacking in funds. In dissecting its origin I never realised how un-PC it is, oh well.
“Hey, wanna go to Maccas?”
“Can’t, I’m too pov.”
“Lets go pay for excessive mark-ups at General Pants Co.”
“I’m so povo today, sorry”
- "Root"
This can be a transitive verb meaning “to have sex with” or a noun, “a root”, to mean “sex”
“Fancy a root?”
“Did you root him/her?”
“I need a root”
This is pretty much only used in certain phrases, most foreigners tend to misuse it. E.g. “I hope you get lots of root.”
- "Bloody"
A popular quantifier, like “very” but with more emphasis and it’s very casual.
“You’re bloody stupid!” (Me to Jorge Bec)
“Damn my bloody bloody hands” (Lady McBeth)
- "Pretty"
Australians use this word as a quantifier a lot more than other countries. It’s not as strong as “Bloody”. It translates best to “quite”
“She’s pretty!”
“She’s ugly!”
“She’s pretty ugly!”
- "Dodgy"
You use this to describe a location that seems slummy or suspicious.
“Kings Cross? That place is pretty dodgy!”
Also used with an object or food looking to be in poor condition or unreliable.
“Those eggs look a bit dodgy, the culture with talking inhabitants living in the membrane is a dead giveaway”
- "It’s a hole!"
Describing a location of inferior quality:
“Canberra’s a hole.”
“The University of Western Sydney is a hole.”
- "A Random"
This is a word we use instead of saying "stranger", it's used more frequently though.
"That random's checking you out!"
"Argh I forgot my pen! I'll have to ask a random for one."
- "Massive"
This can be an adjective for "AWESOME" or also it's used in front of a noun to strengthen it.
"How was the party last night?
"It was MASSIVE"
"Don't be such a MASSIVE tool."
Australians also have the tendancy to shorten everything, it's most evident at university.
I have to go to my psyc tute, I didn't do the prep so i'll go to Fisher and do it now.
Slang Used 10 Years Ago
These words were once commonly used not so long ago, some are still used but their popularity has trickled away.
"Ace!" – Cool!
“Ace of Base are bloody ace!”
"S***house!" – Sucks!
“Ace of Base are totally s***house!”
"Festy!" – Gross!
“Warm milk is festy!”
"Suck eggs!" – Sucked in!
Don't be a massive tool, add a bloody comment with some other ace Aussie slang...
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Comment by John
I'm Rooted - I am worn out and out of energy as one might be after sex, but without all the enjoyments
and
Bee's Knees - The best, eg "She thinks she's the bee's knees"
But, I do like some of the english slang as well, with such polite phrases as "I couldn't be arsed".
Comment by peaches
It's strange that the bee's knees is coming back in to use again when it is SO old -- like from the 1920s.
People wil be saying "Corker!" and "She's apples." if we don't watch out.
Comment by Jazz
Comment by Grant
Urban Telegraph
What about the typically Australian greeting of "How're you going" (note the lack of question mark) when we're not actually asking you how you are. Really confuses American uni students.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'm entertained by people saying 'You're awright' or 'She's a little bit o' awright'
And when Aussies call me a 'Seppo', I pretend to be offended.
Comment by RM
I'm waiting for the day that being all over someone/something "like a cheap suit" comes in much the same way all the people that have been wearing nerdy "huge" glasses for the last fifteen years will now suddenly look fashionable for six months...
To be honest shithouse is still used fairly frequently. Although probably not as much as the others on that list.
Dare I ask about your renumeration package?