Australianisms and Aussie English

Many Australian words come to us from Aboriginal tribes such as: boomerang, billabong, kangaroo and cockatoo. Here are some Aboriginal location names: Woolloomooloo, Mullumbimby, Wollongong and Wagga Wagga.

First names can be embellished by adding an “o” at the end, such as: “Robert” would become “Bobo” and “Steve” would come “Stevo.” Also, names ending in “ie” and “y” change to “zza.” For example: “Gary” would become “Gazza” and Sharon would become “Shazza.”

Words to live by…

Ankle-biter … Child or Rug-Rat
Apples … Everything’s under control
Aussie salute … A backward and forward waving of hands before the face to shoo away flies
Bell … To call someone on the telephone. “I’ll give you a bell tomorrow night.”
Billabong … A water hole in a dry river bed
Bickie … A cookie
Bludger … Someone who doesn’t pull their weight at work and sponges on others
Boot … Trunk of a car
Bottle shop … Liquor store
Brolly … An umbrella
Bubbler … A drinking fountain
Bushed … tired. “I’m bushed.”
Cheese and kisses … wife
Frog and toad … road. “let’s hit the frog and toad and leave.”
Garbo … Garbage man
G’day … Good day. “G’day, me mate.”
Give it a burl … Give it a try
Heart starter … The first alcoholic drink of the day
Hooray … Goodbye, so long. Also, “Hooroo!”
Joey … Baby kangaroo or wallaby
Jumper … A sweater
Loo … The toilet
Mozzie … Mosquito
Nipper … A small child
Oaker … An uncultivated Australian; redneck
Off … Bad taste. Also in a hurry. “Off like a bride’s nightie.”
Old man … A fully grown male kangaroo
Possie … A position or spot. “There’s a good parking possie.”
Pull your head in … Mind your own business
Ripper … Someone or something really good. “bloody ripper, mate.”
Slacker … Someone who avoids hard work
Sport … A friendly greeting. “G’day, sport.”
Tinnie … A can of beer
Tomato sauce … Ketchup
Toot … Toilet
Uey … U-turn. “Chuck a Uey.”
Up a gum tree … Confused and not sure what to do
Waltzing Matilda … Australia’s unofficial national anthem