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Travelling overseas is one of life's great adventures, but sometimes the biggest cultural differences aren't food, customs or driving on the wrong side of the road. They're the words coming out of our mouths.
Australians are famous for shortening words, inventing new ones, and using phrases that make absolutely no sense to anyone else.
Here's your survival guide to the Aussie expressions most likely to get you into trouble - and how to laugh your way out of it.
The Aussie Slang Hall of Shame
At the Beach
- Thongs
What Australians mean: Footwear.
What the rest of the world hears: Underwear.
This is the undisputed champion of Aussie travel misunderstandings.
Telling someone in the UK, USA or Europe that you've left your thongs by the pool can create some very confusing mental images.
When overseas, try "flip-flops" or "sandals" instead, or if your in NZ, "jandals".
- Cozzies, Bathers, Togs or Swimmers
Australia can't even agree on what swimwear is called.
Overseas, you'll probably want to stick with "swimsuit" or "swimwear".
- Entrée
Australia: Starter.
North America: Main course.
Order an entrée expecting a snack and you could accidentally receive an entire roast chicken.
- Snags
Australians eat snags.
Brits eat bangers.
Everyone's eating sausages.
We're all winners.
- Chicken Schnitty
Australians have somehow convinced themselves that "schnitty" is a universally accepted culinary term.
It isn't.
Ask for a chicken schnitzel if you want to avoid puzzled waitstaff.
- Parmy, Parma, Parmi...
Australia's longest-running civil war.
Whatever camp you're in, overseas you'll need to ask for a chicken parmigiana.
- Biscuit/Bikkie
Ask for a biscuit in America and you may receive something that looks suspiciously like a scone.
Ask for a cracker for a savoury bikkie or cookie if you're chasing something sweet.
- Babyccino
Australians are coffee snobs. It's okay, we know it.
The flat white has conquered much of the world, but don't assume every café shares our dedication to perfectly textured milk.
But what of the much-loved babyccino, the everyday treat for young'uns and a staple on every café menu in Australia?
While Australian kids sip babyccinos, in New Zealand they might be offered a "fluffy".
Which is adorable, even if you're too nervous to actually order one.
In the US? You'll have to be specific - "steamed milk with foam in a small cup with a dusting of chocolate and a marshmallow on top". Kind of takes the fun out of it but your kid will be happy.
- BBQ/Barbie
Both a verb and noun in Australia: "We're going to a BBQ where we will BBQ some snags".
In the US, you're going to a "cookout" where the meat will be cooked on the "grill"
Hitting the Shops
- Jumper
Australians: A warm top.
Americans: Someone participating in a jumping activity. If you're cold, try putting on a "sweater".
- Joggers
Australians: Running/workout shoes.
UK: Tracksuit pants.
In America, they're looking for people running.
Language is weird.
Try calling them sneakers, tennis shoes, trainers or running shoes when travelling.
- Trackie Daks
One of Australia's greatest inventions.
Unfortunately, nobody overseas has the slightest clue what you're talking about, except possibly Brits who may clock the (very Aussie) leap from their more commonly used "tracksuit bottoms".
"Sweatpants" will get the job done in the US. Avoid this in the UK as "pants" in any form generally means underwear (this seems to be a theme).
Having a Chat
- "How ya going?" and "See ya later"
An actual conversation going on at every café, pub or street corner in Australia right now.
What we're actually saying: "Hi, how are you today?" and "Bye".
The response from pretty much any (confused) non-Aussie: "By car/train/plane" and "When?"
Excuse us, please don't take our words literally.
- "Yeah Nah"
The phrase that somehow says both yes and no, but only means no.
Example:
"Want another drink?
"Yeah, nah, I'm right." = No.
Crystal clear, obviously.
It has no basis in English. Even Australians struggle to define it, so you'll hit roadblocks if you try it overseas.
- Buggered
Australians use this daily.
Usually we just mean we're tired, or something is broken, or you're coming up blank - "buggered if I know".
You'll feel right at home using this in the UK, where it is also a very common expression used in the same ways Aussies do.
Elsewhere, it can raise a few eyebrows. Use other words while travelling to avoid causing offence.
- Arvo/S'Arvo
You'll usually only hear Aussies or New Zealanders say, "see you this arvo", or even "see you s'arvo".
Sure, people will probably know what you mean but you'll out yourself as a tourist as it's far more typical to say "this afternoon" in the US or UK.
To Aussies, 4 syllables seems like a long way to get your point across.
Interestingly, there are a few phrases that you may consider distinctly Australian, that actually... aren't.
- Stoked
Meaning "very excited".
"I'm so stoked" often pops up when an Aussie character drops into a US TV show. But, while it is considered a mainstay of Australian vernacular, it actually originated in US 1950-60's surf culture and is still regularly used in a casual context, much like in Oz.
- Chuck a U-ey
On the Road
- Dunny/Loo
"Dunny" is uniquely Australian, while you could also hear "loo" across the UK.
Few travel situations are more urgent that needing a toilet and not knowing what to call it. Thankfully "bathroom" works almost everywhere.
- Servo
Ask an American or Brit where the servo is and there's a chance they'll think you're looking for a robot.
It's a petrol or gas station.
Bonus Round: Peak Australian
- Crook
Feeling crook?
Australians know you're sick.
Everyone else assumes you've become a criminal.
- Chook
Chicken.
That's it.
- Chockers
Brits would understand "chocker" or "chock-a-block" when they mean "completely full", but Aussies just have to add that "s" on the end.
- Esky
Australians take eskies to the beach.
Americans take coolers.
Both contain snacks and questionable life choices.
- "Texta" and "Rubber"
Brits and Americans say "marker" and "eraser" instead, which... makes sense.
You may want to exercise particular caution around saying "rubber" - unless you actually are asking for a condom.
Survival Tips for Speaking Aussie Overseas
Read the Room
If people look confused after every second sentence, dial back the slang.
Temporarily, of course.
Slow Down
Australians are world champions at speaking quickly and merging entire words together.
A little slower can go a long way.
Avoid the High-Risk Vocabulary
Words like:
- Thong
- Root
- Fanny
- Rubber
- Bugger
Use with caution.
Very cautious caution.
Final Boarding Call
The funny thing about Australian slang is that we don't realise we're using it.
We assume everyone knows what a snag is, where the servo is, and why we're feeling crook after a big night at the barbie.
Then we travel.
And suddenly we discover that while English may be the world's most spoken language, Australia definitely has its own thing going on.
So sure, pack your cozzie, grab your joggers, throw some snacks in the esky and head off on your next adventure.
Just don't be surprised if no one understands a word you're saying.
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