We translated Aussie slang so you don’t have to

Learning a new language can be hard, especially in Australia, where the locals prefer to abbreviate everything. You’ll find that Australians speak quickly and have unusual ways of pronouncing words. From togs to servo, we’ve translated the most mysterious Aussie lingo to have you speaking like a local in no time. Try these out with your Australian friends… results not guaranteed.

Avo = Avocado

Avocado
Eg. “I’ll have the avo on toast please.”
Creamy, nutritious and delicious. Avocados are a fan favourite, especially with students. Just watch your bank account, because these bad boys can add up.

Straya = Australia

Australia
Eg. “Welcome to Straya, god’s country.”
A classic case of shortening. Why spend more time saying something than you need to.

Thongs = Flip Flops

Thongs
Eg. “Pop your thongs on, the sand is hot.”
In Australia, thongs are just the way we say flip flops. Protecting Aussie feet from the hot sand and bitumen since as long as we can remember.

Heaps = Loads or Many

“We have heaps of time.”
Heaps is casually thrown into conversation by Australians heaps.

Togs = Swimming Costume

Togs
Eg. “Grab your togs, we’re going to the pool.”
Also referred to as boardies or bikinis.Take your pick when it comes to the slang term you use, but keep in mind that depending on where you visit in Australia, there are different terms for this. In Queensland, we’ll settle on togs being swimming costumes, but you’ll find it varies nationwide.

Aircon/AC = Air Conditioning

Eg. “Can we turn the aircon on?”
With hot weather being an almost permanent fixture of the Australian lifestyle, aircon is a huge part of Australians lives. Aircon is what gets us through the long and hot summers.

Mozzie = Mosquito

Mozzie
Eg. “Watch out for the mozzies.”
Mosquitos are a frequent friend that comes along with the summer evenings and beaches in Australia. These suckers can be annoying so make sure you’re well stocked on mozzie repellant and coils and have the fly swatter at the ready.

Lollies = Sweets/Candy

Lollies
Eg. “Hand me a lolly.”
The sweet, sugar-filled candies that we all dream of are referred to as lollies and lollies only. Also keep in mind that chocolates would never be considered in this category.

Swag = Rollout Bed

Eg. “I’m taking a swag on my camping trip.”
A swag is a one- or two-person rollout bed that can be converted into a mini tent. Often used on camping and backpacking trips.

Flanno/Flannie = Flannelette Shirt

Flanno
Eg. “Can I borrow a flanno?”
This one also goes by flannie and is an Australian fashion statement. These checkered shirts are made from flannelette material and are popular in winter around the campfire.

Barbie = Barbecue

Eg. “Put a prawn on the barbie.”
Contrary to popular belief, we call ‘shrimp’ prawns, and the barbeque is a barbie (no, not the barbie doll you had when you were 7). When making use of the many Student One barbecue areas make sure you refer to it as a barbie to save a misunderstanding.

Maccas = McDonald’s

Eg. “Let’s get a feed at Maccas”
You’ve almost certainly heard of McDonald’s but around here you’re way more likely to hear Maccas.

Arvo = Afternoon

Arvo

Eg. “See you tomorrow arvo.”
If you look past all the missing letters, this one’s pretty easy to remember, right? If you want to be extra spicy, add an “s” to the front to say s’arvo, meaning, this afternoon.

Bottle-O = Bottle Shop

“Anyone need a bottle-o run?”
A Bottle-O is much more commonly known as a bottle shop, or even more specifically, a place in which you can buy alcohol. Unlike other countries you cannot buy alcohol anywhere except in a Bottle-O here in Queensland.

Servo = Service or Gas Station

“I need to fill up at the servo”
A servo is a service or gas station, as in, a place where you fill up your car with petrol.

Devo = Devastated

“Oh man, I am devo about that footy score.”
As you can probably gather, us Australians like to add ‘o’ to the end of anything as a way to shorten it.

Undies = Underwear

Undies

Eg. “Did you wash your undies?”
Whether you like Batman or flowers, this is a unisex term for all types of undergarments.

Doona = Quilt Cover

Doona
Eg. “Stop hogging the doona.”
An essential item for every student who wants to cuddle up during the cooler nights for a cosy sleep. In saying that, we are pretty blessed with the weather here so most of the time a sheet will probably do the job.

Yeh Nah = No

“Yeh Nah”
Simply, when you want to say no, you say yeh nah.

Nah Yeh = Yes

“Nah Yeh”
Simply, when you want to say yes, you say nah yeh.