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