1
Chop it, then add -o
Cut the word off after the first syllable or so, and put an “o” on the end.
afternoon · service station · journalist · ambulance arvo · servo · journo · ambo
SourcesABC Education — Aussie slangABC Education — Australian slang
← Know-how
Sound like you live here
Aussie lingo
Australians shorten almost everything, and the habit confuses newcomers more than any single word does. Learn the pattern and most of it falls into place.
G’day /ɡəˈdæɪ/ say it: guh-DYE · or the broad Aussie way, gid-DYE source
A friendly Aussie hello, short for “good day”. People say it at any hour. source
Checked 16 October 2026. Every word below cites where its meaning came from.
How to adjust your words like an Aussie
2
Or chop it and add -ie (or -y)
The other common ending is an “ee” sound, spelled -ie or -y.
breakfast · barbecue · football · relatives · sunglasses brekkie · barbie · footy · rellies · sunnies
SourcesABC Education — Aussie slangABC Education — Australian slang
3
Do not assume every -o word is Australian
Words like “aggro” and “cheapo” end in -o but are not Australian. Learn the list below, rather than inventing your own.
aggro · cheapo not uniquely Australian
SourceAustralian National Dictionary Centre (ANU) — meanings and origins
4
Drop the ends of your words when you talk
In fluent speech “you” becomes “ya” and the last “g” of “going” falls away.
How are you going? How ya goin’?
5
Use “mate”, and keep it friendly
A mate is a friend of any gender, and slang is mostly for friends and relaxed situations, not formal ones or writing.
Tell all my friends… Tell all your mates…
Why they do it
Linguists describe these shortened forms as expressions of informality and solidarity, a bit like an accent: part of the glue that sticks Australian English speakers together. On names the endings are often affectionate, as in Susy and Robbo.
What people mean
G’day
An informal greeting, short for “good day”.
“G’day, how you going?”
How ya goin’?
How are you? Said as one quick phrase, and a normal greeting between friends.
“How ya goin’, Kris? Haven’t seen you in ages.”
Not too bad
A relaxed reply to “how ya goin’?”.
“Not too bad, tired though.”
Catch you later
Goodbye.
“Anyway, time to go home. Catch you later.”
mate
A friend. It is not gender specific.
“Tell all your mates.”
no worries
No bother, no trouble. An assurance that all is fine.
“Thanks for the lift. — No worries.”
arvo
Afternoon.
servo
A service station, or gas station.
brekkie
Breakfast.
barbie
A barbecue.
footy
Football.
sunnies
Sunglasses.
rellie
A relative. “Rellies” is relatives.
uni
University.
deli
A delicatessen.
doco
A documentary.
journo
A journalist.
ambo
An ambulance.
devo
Devastated: overwhelmingly shocked or grieved.
“I was devo when my favourite show ended.”
vego
A vegetarian.
compo
Compensation.
dero
Derelict.
garbo
A garbage collector.
pollie
A politician.
tradie
A tradesperson, such as a builder.
mozzie
A mosquito.
lippie
Lipstick.
Tassie
Tasmania.
Chrissy
Christmas.
firie
A firefighter.
trackie daks
Tracksuit pants, or sweat pants.
fair dinkum
Genuine, true. Used to show surprise, or to ask whether someone is being honest.
“Are you fair dinkum?”
having a lend of you
Teasing you, or telling a white lie or exaggerating.
“He says it was 20 kg. I reckon he’s having a lend of me.”
stickybeak
To look around in a prying, nosy way. Also, a nosy person.
pull your head in
Back off, stop what you are doing, mind your own business.
spit the dummy
Throw a tantrum, or react angrily and childishly.
“Dad will spit the dummy when he finds out I borrowed the car.”
a blue
An argument, or a fight.
chuck a left
Turn left. “Chuck a u-ey” is do a U-turn.
clicks
Kilometres. “Five clicks” is five kilometres.
prang
A car accident.
tacker
A child. Also “ankle biter”, which is older slang.
hard yakka
Hard work. “Yakka” comes from the Yagara language of the Brisbane region.
crook
Bad, unpleasant, or unwell.
bogan
An uncultured, unsophisticated person. It is an insult, so do not use it about someone.
esky
A portable insulated box that keeps food and drink cool, common at barbecues, beaches and camping.
stubby
A short, squat beer bottle, especially a 375 ml one.
chook
A chicken.
snag
A sausage.
sanger
A sandwich.
dunny
A toilet. It was originally a separate outhouse in the backyard.
bathers, togs, swimmers, cossies
All words for a swimsuit. You will hear different ones in different places.
Nothing here for that. The list only includes words a published source defines. Try a local: they will laugh at the quirks of their own language, not at you.
Use it lightly
Slang is mostly for friends and relaxed moments. It belongs to a place and a group of people, and it is not usually written down. If you are not sure what someone means, ask them. They will most likely laugh at the strange habits of their own language, not at you.
SourcesABC Education — Aussie slangABC Education — Australian slang
Missing a word, or one that means something different where you live? Tell us on the About page, with a dictionary or news link if you have one.