Chapter 1
The wild history of Strine
Chapter 2
Decoding the daily lingo
Chapter 3
Slang of the outback and bush
Chapter 4
Aussie slang on the global stage
Ch 2 · Decoding the daily lingo
matilda Australian Slang
Cut the word and add an -ie (add an -ie!) / That's how we got the selfie (the selfie, yeah!)
matilda Shortening words into barbie, brekkie, and bickie softens standard English into an incredibly casual, friendly dialect that actively rejects stuffiness
Quiz
If an Australian firefighter is called a 'firie,' what is an ambulance officer called?
matilda Shortened words like arvo and smoko established a unique linguistic identity in Australia
Quiz
What does the term 'smoko' traditionally refer to in Australian workplace culture?
Fun Fact
Macca's dictionary: The word 'Macca's' was officially added to the Macquarie Dictionary, Australia's national dictionary, in 2013 due to its massive popularity.
Quiz
Which fast-food giant officially changed its signage on several Australian stores to match local slang?
Quiz
If you pull over at a 'servo' during a road trip in Australia, what are you visiting?
Glossary
slang (noun)
Informal language consisting of words and phrases that are typically used in speech rather than formal writing. Australians famously adapt over four thousand everyday terms into casual abbreviations like arvo and brekkie.
Informal language consisting of words and phrases that are typically used in speech rather than formal writing. Australians famously adapt over four thousand everyday terms into casual abbreviations like arvo and brekkie.
Quiz
If someone asks you to pass the 'dead horse' at an Australian barbecue, what do they want?