Are you planning to travel around Australia or New Zealand? Before you arrive, it helps to know that Aussies have a very particular way with words — most of them are made as short as possible, then finished with an 'o', 'ie', or 'y'. And Kiwis have their own delightful dialect that's a world unto itself. This guide covers the essentials so you won't be left scratching your head at the barbie.
🦘 Australian Slang
Aussie slang is characterised by making words as short as possible — then making them fun. If you're visiting Australia, you'll hear these terms constantly. Don't be surprised if it sounds like a completely different language for the first day or two.
The Aussie Rule
Almost any word can be shortened and have 'o', 'ie', or 'y' added. Service station → servo. Afternoon → arvo. Sunglasses → sunnies. Biscuit → biccy. McDonald's → Maccas. Once you spot the pattern, it clicks.
Arvo
01MeaningAfternoon. "See you this arvo" = "see you this afternoon."
Barbie
02MeaningBarbeque — both the device and the event. "Coming to a barbie at mine Saturday?" is a genuine Australian social invitation.
Bogan
03MeaningAn uncultured, rough-around-the-edges person. Comparable to 'redneck' in American English. Used as gentle ribbing among friends, or genuinely.
Bottle-O
04MeaningBottle shop — a store selling alcohol to take away. "Stopping at the Bottle-O on the way" is a common pre-party errand.
Bloke
05MeaningA man or male person. "He's a good bloke" means he's a decent, likeable man. High praise in Australia.
Chockers
06MeaningCompletely full. "The pub was chockers" = the pub was completely packed. Also spelled 'chockablock'.
Dunny
07MeaningToilet or bathroom. Originally an outdoor toilet, now used for any. "Where's the dunny?" is a perfectly normal question.
Esky
08MeaningA portable insulated cooler for drinks and food. Essential at every barbie, beach day, and camping trip. Named after an old brand, like 'Hoover' for vacuum.
Fair Dinkum
09MeaningTrue, genuine, the real deal. "Are you fair dinkum?" = "Are you being serious/honest?" A 'fair dinkum Aussie' is genuinely Australian.
Grommet
10MeaningA young, enthusiastic surfer — usually a teenager. Also shortened to 'grom'. Used affectionately in surf culture.
Mozzie
11MeaningMosquito. Classic Aussie word-shortening. "The mozzies are bad tonight" — pack insect repellent for tropical Queensland.
Pash
12MeaningA long, passionate kiss. A 'pash rash' is the irritated skin caused by kissing someone with stubble — a badge of honour.
Ripper
13MeaningReally great, excellent. "You ripper!" is an exclamation of delight. "That was a ripper day" = it was an excellent day.
Roo
14MeaningKangaroo. A baby roo in the pouch is a 'joey'. A 'roo bar' is the protective front bar on vehicles for outback driving.
Root
15MeaningSexual intercourse. Americans have caused international incidents by announcing they love to "root for their team". Use 'barrack' for supporting your team instead.
Servo
16MeaningPetrol station. Never called a 'gas station' in Australia. If you ask for 'gas', don't be surprised if it confuses people.
She'll be right
17MeaningEverything will be fine — don't worry about it. The quintessential Aussie expression of easy-going optimism. A national philosophy.
Sickie
18MeaningA sick day. 'Chucking a sickie' means taking a sick day when you're perfectly healthy — a concept Australians are remarkably philosophical about.
Slab
19Meaning24-pack of beer. An essential Australian unit of social measurement. "Grab a slab on the way" = pick up a 24-pack of beer.
Sook
20MeaningTo sulk, or someone who complains excessively. "Don't be a sook" = stop acting like a baby about it.
Sheila
21MeaningA woman or girl. Older in usage and can feel dated — the female equivalent of 'bloke'. Use with awareness of your audience.
Stubbie holder
22MeaningAn insulated sleeve for a 375ml beer bottle (a 'stubbie'). Known as a 'koozie' in the US. An essential piece of Australian barbecue kit.
Sweet as
23MeaningFantastic, perfect, awesome. Aussies put 'as' at the end of adjectives for emphasis. 'Lazy as', 'lovely as', 'fast as'. Sweet as what? Sweet as anything.
Ta
24MeaningThank you. Quick, casual, universally understood. "Ta!" after someone holds a door is perfectly normal.
Togs
25MeaningSwimsuit or swimwear (Queensland term). Victoria says 'bathers', NSW sometimes says 'cossies'. Whatever you call them — pack them.
Tradie
26MeaningA tradesperson. Sub-categories: brickie (bricklayer), truckie, sparky (electrician), garbo (garbage collector), chippie (carpenter), ambo (ambulance officer).
True Blue
27MeaningGenuinely, authentically Australian. "A true blue Aussie" is someone quintessentially Australian in character and values.
Ute
28MeaningUtility vehicle — what Americans call a pickup truck. The dual-cab ute is Australia's best-selling vehicle, a symbol of regional identity.
Whinge
29MeaningTo whine or complain, especially about trivial things. "Stop whingeing." 'Whinging Poms' is an affectionate Aussie term for British visitors who complain.
🥝 New Zealand Slang
Kiwi slang can be found just about anywhere in New Zealand, even in fancy restaurants and hotels. It's deeply woven into everyday speech. The key thing to know: the New Zealand vowel shift turns 'i' into something closer to 'u' — hence 'fush and chups'. Once you've got the hang of it — it's easy as, bro.
Kia Ora
01MeaningThe Māori greeting — hello, good health, or thank you. Used universally across New Zealand in all contexts, from TV to government offices.
Choice
02MeaningMultipurpose Kiwi positive — okay, cool, I agree, great. Always positive. "That's choice, bro" = that's excellent, friend.
Fush and chups
03MeaningFish and chips — a beloved New Zealand staple. The distinctive Kiwi vowel shift in action. Fish and chip shops are a national institution.
Hangi
04MeaningA traditional Māori meal slow-cooked in a pit oven in the earth over many hours. Moist, deeply flavourful, and a genuinely special cultural experience.
Pakeha
05MeaningNew Zealanders of European descent. Coined by early Māori to describe European settlers. Now widely used and not considered offensive.
Chilly bin
06MeaningAn insulated cooler — the NZ equivalent of Australia's Esky. Integral to any summer gathering, sports event, or student party. Also a convenient seat.
Jandals
07MeaningFlip-flops or sandals. Uniquely New Zealand term (short for 'Japanese sandals'). Australians say 'thongs'; Americans say 'flip-flops'; New Zealanders say 'jandals'. Not the underwear.
Bach ("batch")
08MeaningA modest holiday home at the beach or lake. Usually small and somewhat shabby — no one minds sand on the floor. The Kiwi version of a beach shack.
Tiki tour
09MeaningA roundabout, scenic, or deliberately indirect route. "We did a tiki tour of the South Island" = a leisurely wandering road trip. Always recommended.
Stubbies
10MeaningVery short shorts — the kind that were fashionable in the 1980s and still occasionally appear at barbeques. Not to be confused with Australian 'stubbies' (375ml beer bottles).
Yeah nah
11MeaningPolite disagreement — means no, or 'I'll pass on that'. "Yeah nah, I'll give it a miss." The inverse — 'nah yeah' — means yes. Essential to know both.
Bugger
12MeaningAn expression of frustration when something goes wrong. Widely used, especially on farms. Made internationally famous by a Toyota New Zealand advertisement in 1999.
The wops
13MeaningThe middle of nowhere — a remote, isolated location. "His farm is out in the wops" = his farm is extremely remote, far from any services.
Sus
14MeaningSuspicious or sketchy — a situation or person that looks dodgy. "That smells a bit sus" = that seems suspicious. Common across both Australia and NZ.
Now you're prepared
You now have the essential vocabulary to blend in with locals across both countries. Aussie slang is informal and friendly — using a few words shows respect for local culture and almost always earns an appreciative smile. Give it a crack.
🦘 Ready to Experience Australia for Yourself?
Cooee Tours' expert local guides will introduce you to Australian culture, cuisine, and landscapes — slang included. Small groups, big experiences.