So, naturally, the best part of travelling to another country is encountering lingo. Some of it is obvious. Others are not.
This is a summary of what I can remember. Bet there’s lots I’ve missed.
| aussie word | my understanding |
| aircon | air conditioning |
| arcade | shopping mall |
| arvo | afternoon |
| banana bender | Queenslander |
| boot | trunk of car |
| brekkie | breakfast |
| bunker down | hunker down |
| capsicum | green or red bell pepper |
| chemist | pharmacy/drug store |
| chokkie | chocolate |
| chuck a wobbly | temper tantrum |
| daks | trousers, pants |
| dag | funny person, nerd, goof (often used with affection) |
| doco | documentary |
| dunny | toilet, bathroom (though I’ve also heard it’s meant to mean an outside toilet) |
| fair dinkum | genuine
e.g. Scott is fair dinkum. |
| flat out | busy |
| footpath | sidewalk |
| footy | rugby |
| hooroo | see ya later |
| knackered | exhausted |
| mackas (pronounced ‘mackers’) | McDonald’s |
| on the toe | running flat out |
| outside the square | outside the box |
| petrol | gasoline |
| ripper (pronounced ‘rippa’) |
beaut/beauty, outstanding |
| servo | gas station |
| shonky | shoddy |
| true blue | honest, straight |
| uni | university |
| ute | pickup truck |
| wally | idiot |
Oṃ śānti śānti śānti