100+ Most Popular Australian Slang Words: Updated 2026

Introduction (Intriguing question hook)

Can one word like ‘mate’ really appear in almost every Aussie sentence?

If you’ve ever spent time in Australia or chatted with a native speaker, you’ll know it’s true!

Australians love their slang, and it’s more than just words – it’s a way of life.

In this post, PTE Magic has rounded up 100+ most popular Australian slang words that will help you understand the locals and sound like a true Aussie!

Key takeaways

• Aussies use slang all the time, like ‘G’day’ for hello and ‘mate’ for friend.
• Food and drinks have their own slang, such as ‘brekky’ for breakfast and ‘barbie’ for barbecue.
• Everyday things and clothes also have slang, like ‘trackies’ for pants and ‘sunnies’ for sunglasses.
• Knowing Aussie slang makes it easier to understand locals and join in conversations.

100+ Most Popular Australian Slang Words

Below are the most popular slang words and their meanings:

Greetings And Expressions

• G’day – Hello
• How ya going? – How are you?
• No worries/ No drama/ No wucka’s – It’s okay, no problem.
• Crickey! – Wow!/ Expression of surprise
• Fair dinkum – Honestly, for real
• Good on ya! – Well done/ Nice job
• Beauty/ You beauty! – Great!
• Rapt/ Stoked – Very happy, excited
• She’ll be apples – Everything will be alright.
• Deadset – True, genuine
• Strewth – Expression of surprise

People

• Broke/ Bruce – Man/ Guy
• Cobber/ Mate – Friend
• Rellie/ Rello – Rellative
• Sheila – Woman
• Larrikin – Someone playful, fun, mischievous
• Bogan – Unsophisticated person, redneck
• Dag – Nerd or geek
• Drongo – Fool
• Galah – Silly or not very bright person
• Hoon – Bad driver/ Troublemaker
• Kiwi – Someone from New Zealand
• Pom – English person
• Ankle biter – Child

Food And Drink

• A cold one/ Coldie/ Frothy – Beer
• Goon – Cheap boxed wine
• Barbie/ Barby – Barbecue
• Brekky/ Brekkie/ Brelly – Breakfast
• Sanger/ Snag/ Banger – Sandwich/ Sausage
• Choccy Biccy/ Bikkie – Chocolate biscuit
• Lollies – Sweet/ Candy
• Tucker/ Bush tucker – Food/ Outback food
• Tea – Dinner/ Evening meal
• Cuppa – Tea or coffee
• Cordial – Flavoured drink syrup
• Mash – Mashed potatoes

Places And Outdoors

• Bush – Countryside or forest
• Outback – Remote interior of Australia
• Billabong – Pond in a dry riverbed
• Woop woop – Middle of nowhere
• Servo – Gas station/ Garage
• Bottle-O – Liquid store
• Beach/ Shark biscuit – Kids at the beach
• Granny flat – Small separate living space
• Veranda – Porch/ Balcony

Clothing And Accessories

• Bathers/ Swimmers/ Cozzie – Swimsuit
• Boardies – Board shorts
• Flannie/ Flannel – Flannelette shirt
• Trackies/ Daks – Tracksuit pants/ Trousers
• Runners – Sneakers
• Thongs – Flip-flops
• Knickers – Female underwear
• Jumper – Sweater/ Cardigan
• PJs – Pyjamas
• Sunnies – Sunglasses
• Lippie – Lipstick

Home And Daily Life

• Dunny/ Loo – Toilet
• Doona – Duvet/ Quilt
• Manchester – Sheets/ Linen
• Lappy – Laptop
• Power point – Electrical outlet
• Pram – Stroller
• Reno – Renovation/ Home improvements
• Flatmate – Roommate
• Tip – Garbage dump
• Torch – Flashlight

Vehicles And Travel

• Ute – Pickup truck/ Utility vehicle
• Bonnet – Car hood
• Boot – Car trunk
• Rego – Vehicle registration
• Yewy/ U-IE – U-turn
• Tinny – Small boat or can of beer
• Gas – LPG for barbecue, not petrol
• B.Y.O. – Bring your own (usually alcohol)

Work And Study

• Hard yakka – Hard work
• Flat out – Very busy
• Sickie/ Chuck a sickie – Fake sick day off
• Uni – University
• Traddie – Tradesman/ tradeswoman
• Smoko – Cigarette or short break

Social And Fun

• Piss up – Party or gathering.
• Two-up – Gambling game on Anzac Day
• Gnarly – Awesome/ Cool
• Going off – Busy or chaotic
• Root rat – Someone who enjoys sex a lot
• Skull – Drink a beer quickly
• Slab – Carton of beers
• Stubby – Bottle of beer
• Stubby holder – Beer cooler sleeve

Feelings And Health

• Crook – Sick or ill
• Devo – Devastated/ Very upset
• Pissed/ Legless – Drunk
• Pissed off – Angry or annoyed
• Clucky – Feeling maternal
• Crack the shits – Get angry.
• Fussed/ Iffy – Risky or worried
• Going off – Busy or chaotic

Objects

• Lappy – Laptop
• Air con – Air conditioner
• Trackies – Tracksuit pants
• Trolley – Shopping cart
• Light globe – Light bulb
• Facey – Facebook

Others

• Avo – Avocado
• Cab Sav – Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cactus – Dead or broken
• Choc a bloc – Full
• Bali – Cancel plans
• Booze bus – Police vehicle for drunk drivers
• Up yourself – Arrogant/ stuck up
• Suss – Study or size-up something
• Slip, slop, slap – Sun protection slogan.
• Ta – thank you
• Yank – American

FAQs

What Do Aussies Call $10 In Slang?

In Australian slang, a $10 note is usually called a ‘tenner.’ Some Aussies also call it a ‘Blue Swimmer.’ 

And less often, you might hear ‘blue grenadier’ or ‘blue tongue,’ named after the Australian blue-toungue lizard.

What Is The Most Said Word In Australia?

The most commonly used word in Australia is ‘mate.’ 

Aussies use it all the time, such as:

• In greetings: G’day, mate, or How ya going, mate
• When pressure someone: She’ll be right, mate

What Is The Most Famous Saying In Australia?

One of the most common sayings in Australia is ‘No worries.’ 

It’s like a national motto and simply means ‘Don’t worry about it’, or ‘It’s all good.’

How Do Aussies Say Nice?

‘Nice’ in Australian slang is often said as ‘noice.’ 

It’s just the Aussie way of saying something is good, cool, or impressive.

What Do Australians Call Dinner?

Australians usually call ‘dinner’ ‘tea.’ 

They might say, ‘What’s tea for tonight?’ or ‘Come over for tea,’ meaning they’re talking about food, not just the drink.

Conclusion

Learning the most popular Australian slang words is a fun way to understand Aussie culture and connect with locals. 

From everyday greetings like ‘G’day’ and ‘mate’ to casual phrases like ‘no worries’ or ‘arvo,’ these expressions make conversations more lively.

Last updated on 21/10/2025