10 Australian Slang Words To Sound Like A Local

Australian slang words can be tricky to get the hang of. Sure, it’s technically English, but it can sound like a different language. Arriving to Oz without a grasp of the lingo can be confusing, especially if English isn’t your native language.

Aussie slang is so much more than just an accent. The term for Aussie slang and pronunciation is strine, and usually words get shortened down.

What would you think if some asked you to go to a “barbie” in the “arvo”? What about going to the “bottle-o” to fill the “esky? Don’t worry. As you’ll soon be saying, “she’ll be right”.

Here’s a list of 10 commonly used slang words in Australia. You’ll be speaking like a Sydneysider in no time.

10 common Australian slang words

1. Arvo = afternoon

“Heading to the beach tomorrow arvo?”

2. Barbie = barbecue

“Nice day for a barbie!”

3. Bottle-O = liquor store

“Get a few cold ones from the Bottle-O”

4. Root = sex

“I would love to root him”

5. Esky = beer/food cooler box

“Grab me a cold one from the esky!”

6. She’ll be right = everything will be alright

“Don’t worry mate, she’ll be right”

7. Woop Woop = any small, isolated town

“He lives all the way out in Woop Woop”

8. Fair Dinkum = honest/fair play

“Fair Dinkum?” “Swear, Fair Dinkum”

9. Larrikin = someone who’s up for a laugh

“Ah, Matt is a real Larrikin”

10. Whinge = complain/whine

“Shut up whinging!”