Australian Words and Phrases

Below are some common Australian words and phrases. I’ve noticed myself starting to use some of them. Much to my surprise I walked by a branch of ANZ bank and thought of it as “zed,” not “zee.” Most of the time, though, I continue to amuse people with my American speech.

Good on you = good for you; the correct response is “Thank you,” not, “On me? Where?”

She’ll be right = everything will be fine

Aussie = Australian, pronounced “Ozzie”

Tassie = Tasmania/Tasmanian

Oz = Australia

Sunnies = sunglasses

Chokkies = chocolates, esp. as in “hot chokky”

Bikkies = biscuits, which can refer to cookies, crackers, and dry pet food; what we would consider a biscuit is a scone

Tea = the drink, a snack, or the evening meal; the first time I was asked if I had ingredients for tea, I wondered how complicated it can be to make a cup of tea – until I realized this was tea as in dinner

Ta = thanks

Petrol = gasoline

Prezzies = presents

Pikkies = pictures

Uni = university

Lollies = lollipops and hard candies

Hoppies = any of the hopping marsupials

Cockies = cockatoos

Posties = postmen/women

Trolley = shopping cart

Rice Bubbles = Rice Krispies, which are made by Kellogg’s and everything

Blokey = masculine

Have a feed = eat

Note = bill, as in a $10 note

Full on = hardcore, completely

SMS = text message

EFTPOS = debit card

Off = spoiled, rotten (as in vegetables going off)

Reckon = think; Australians don’t do much thinking, as they prefer to reckon

There is also a trend to emphasize adjectives by following them with “as.” For instance, very cold is “cold as.” American food is “sweet as.”