Expression of congratulations: “Maaate!” Expression of surprise: “Mate!”
Chookas: Means “Break a leg” or “all the best”. Used to wish a performer good luck. For example, “Chookas for the big night!”
Ask an Aussie to name a truly Australian word, and they might yell "Bonzer!" Bonzer, sometimes also spelled bonza, means "first-rate" or "excellent," and it is the Australian equivalent of the American "awesome": "It's a good clean game ... and the standard is red hot," Thies said.
Let's start with one of the most famous Australian slang phrases: 'No worries'. It's said to be the national motto of Australia. This expression means “do not worry about it”, or “it's all right”.
'Ta' means 'thank you'. "A: Can you please pass me the sauce? B: Sure, here you go. A: Ta."
Dinkum is an English dialect word brought to Australia by white settlers. It originally meant work. In Robbery Under Arms Rolf Boldrewood writes, It took us an hours hard dinkum to get near the peak. From this came fair dinkum originally meaning a fair days work for a fair days pay.
Mate. “Mate” is a popular word for friend. And while it's used in other English-speaking countries around the world, it has a special connection to Australia. In the past, mate has been used to address men, but it can be gender-neutral.
The expression has been compared to the American English equivalent "no problem". In their book Australian Language & Culture: No Worries!, authors Vanessa Battersby, Paul Smitz and Barry Blake note: "No worries is a popular Australian response akin to 'no problems', 'that's OK' or 'sure thing'."
“Bugger” is common in both Aussie and British slang, and vaguely refers to someone or something that is annoying. Calling someone a bugger can be used affectionately or derogatorily. The general expletive can be used in any situation, and roughly means,“F*** off/me” or “Well, I'll be damned!”
In Australian English “cheers” isn't just used to celebrate before drinking with your mates, it is also used as a way to say thank you. Cheers can also be heard in other English speaking countries but is definitely most prominent in Australia. A: Here's that money I owe you. B: Ahh, cheers mate!
5. Sheila = Girl. Yes, that is the Australian slang for girl.
Here in Australia, however, McDonald's most prevalent nickname is “Macca's”. A recent branding survey commissioned by McDonald's Australia found that 55 per cent of Australians refer to the company by its local slang name.
What do you call a hot girl in Australia? The most popular slang term overall that I can think of is “hot”. “Stunner” is also used, mainly when speaking about a person rather than to one.
Americans have never taken to the slang word bloody, but Aussies use it a lot, and have for a long time. In the late 19th century, writes David Crystal in The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, it was known as "the great Australian adjective," and by the 1940s it was no longer considered a swear word.
One of the first things you'll notice about Australia will no doubt be the very unique speaking habits of its people. Australians speak fast, 'chew' words and skip pronunciation of letters – combine this with their penchant for slang and abbreviations, and you have a language that's quite difficult to comprehend!
Traditional IPA: ˈsɒriː 2 syllables: "SORR" + "ee"
Tips for pronouncing and listening to Aussie Slang
It is common for Australian's to pronounce the –er at the end of a word as –a. For example, you may have heard Australians pronounce the word dinner as dinna. Keep this in mind when listening to Australians, especially the locals that have strong accents.
Cobber is an Australian and New Zealand word for "mate" or "friend".
Dished up and Kerry-Packered. Aussie slang from the 1930s, this term is an extension of dished, meaning “ruined, beatened, damned,” according to Cassell's. (Saying “I'll be dished” is another way to say “I'll be damned.”) Another way to say tired in Australia is kerry-packered, rhyming slang for knackered.