Welcome to Mina’s guide to understanding Aussie slang, colloquialisms and other general words or phrases specific to Australia and/or New Zealand. We can be a rather lazy lot in Australia and often abbreviate every day words; it is done with such regularity that, to us, it is quite normal. However, others may have a hard time figuring out the meaning as I am unsure how many are used regularly overseas. Hopefully, this will help clear up any uncertainties as they may arise.
A
Arvo – abbreviated form of afternoon. Usage: “I’ll call you this arvo.”
B
Barbie/s – abbreviated form of barbeque/s. Usage: “We’ll throw a shrimp on the barbie.” Not to be confused with barbie dolls and though that word is used, context will let you know which is correct. I can’t imagine I will discuss barbie dolls with any regularity. In actuality we are more likely to put a prawn on the barbie than a shrimp.
C
Cascade -A brand of lager made specifically in Tasmania.
Chocolate Fish – strawberry flavoured marshmallow covered in chocolate that is in the shape of a fish. Chiefly found in New Zealand.
Cobber – means friend or pal but is barely used any more or at least not widely. Old Australian slang for mate.
G
G’day – shortened form of Good Day, but you all knew that one right?
O
Ocker -Slang for an Australian person.
Onya – literally meaning good on you or well done. Sometimes used in a sarcastic manner but would be determined by context.
S
Snag/s – slang for sausage/s. Usage: “Let’s cook up a coupla snags on the barbie.”
Stubby/ies – slang for a bottle of beer. Specific to the 375ml sized bottle not the 750ml size which is known as a longneck (not to be confused with the American longnecks.)
T
Tim Tam – a decadent chocolate biscuit. Made up of a chocolate filling sandwiched between two chocolate biscuits and then completely dipped in more chocolate. Apparently Hugh Jackman recently gave out a packet of these to each of Oprah’s audience during an interview to help enlighten the American public. The only thing better than an original Tim Tam is an Orange Tim Tam.
Tinny – slang for a can of beer. Specific to beer in cans or ‘tins’ and not bottles (see stubby).
V
VB – common reference to Victorian Bitter a full strength bitter lager made in the state of Victoria in Australia.
Violet Crumble – honeycomb covered in chocolate made by Nestlé. Cadbury’s equivalent is ‘Crunchie’.
G’day Gorgeous,
Yer roit are ya? Onya!!!
Oh Billy-girl, you’ve opened up a tin of discussion now haven’t you? Good girl. I have been having an ongoing discussion with Damo, (as you know all boys in Straya have names ending in “o”, all girls with “ie” or “y”) and many of these words arise as difficulties when we try to communicate in our mother tongue with the locals of UKoGBaNI. (Funny “mother tongue” since my mother is from Northern Ireland and his from England.)
But please Billy, it’s PRAWNS on the barbie and never shrimp.
I love what Jimeoin, Northern Ireland comedian, says about barbies: that he’s never been to an entire one. All his Aussie mates invite him to “a bit of a barbie”, so he’s only ever been to bits…never to the whole thing. Dear me, that’s way too funny!!
I am looking forward to reading more of your research here: gissa bell if yer wanna hand. Mentime I’ll crack a tinny in your honour.
Seeya,
Klearly Loving Strine Expressions.
KLSE, *big grin* I thought you might approve of this page. I have been meaning to do this for some time as I and others (yourself above all) use many oddities peculiar to these southern shores and I have wondered if everyone can understand what we’re on about.
What brought it about was when I have seen people on other sites asking what a Tim Tam is. The thing is America if not UK must have an equivalent, I mean you just can’t live without a Tim Tam every once in a while.
I amended above to mention the prawns and really used it in the way most international viewers would have heard it used before.
I will update as words are used and I see you have already contributed a few so far. I have taken the liberty of editing any relevant words in comments to add a link to this page and I am confident you will give me a heads up if I get it wrong.
Cheers and Hugs
Kiwi Expanding Wilhelmina (wink)
G’day,
“Damo” indeed, cheeky thing she is: and most obviously a “Kirstie”, but how do we render “Mina” into Ocker? “Billy” may well be right.
The UK does have a Tim Tim equivalent, it’s the Penguin biscuit: but then nothing operates at the level of the Double Coat Tim Tim, and there is no equivalent to the Cherry Ripe.
(Orange Tim Tam? Bloody Kiwi, bugger off wreckin’ our bickies and stick to yer Chit Chats and yer Pineapple Lumps will yers?)
What suprised me as I was cruising Coles yesterday (Friday 13th, Bushfire Appeal) was that ANZAC biscuits are $2.68 here, and they were 99p in Watford Sainsbury…that’s $2.17! How can Aussie-Kiwi bickies be cheaper in Britain? The diggers would be spewin’.
Oh, and well done/too bad about last night’s cricket, depending where you now lay your (green or black) cap. At least your Bombers flew up…
I raise a stubby of Cascade in honour of you both. (I love you’se all.)
Cheers cobber,
Damo.
Damo, have to admit I love Wilhelmina transformed into ‘Billy’ as an endearment. Kirstie often has the best play on words, though I see you are not slack in that department yourself with the delightful stockcubes.
Glad you got out of gaol free and have returned to your beloved Australia. From one place full of convicts to another no less…grins. But, it is outrageous that you could buy ANZAC bickies cheaper in the UK than here. You should have brought a load back with you and made a profit. All proceeds going to the veterans of course.
Didn’t watch the cricket which is just as well if NZ didn’t win.
Hugs
Mina
G’day Billie,
May “The Bilby of Plenty” supply you with all that you need this weekend.
(In this country we shoot rabbits…)
D oxo
Damo, The Bilby of Plenty indeed. I was too lazy to swing by Haighs for the original Bilby but seem to have accumulated chocolate bunny droppings enough to make up for that lack.
Happy Easter for you and yours and good luck if you are delivering any sermons.
Hugs
Mina
I have never found any close substitution for the Tim Tam here in the states. I have found them at World Market here, but otherwise only at some mail order/online Aussie stores. We have nothing close to a Cherry Ripe either. I love both, having been introduced to all kinds of Aussie goodness by Aussie friends. Violet Crumbles too—I can find Crunchies at the military base but no Violet Crumbles
. Now I am really missing all my Aussie friends, most of them are back in OZ now… Oh, have never had Orange Tim Tams–they keep coming up with new ones! The double coated ones are to die for–well, that is true of any Tim Tam. I have found Anzacs in a special commemorative tin, but I have a recipe for them (from a friend who was stationed in Australia) that is even better–yum!
Kallisto, I really thought there would have been a substitute for the great Tim Tam. You guys are really missing out, as you know.
Can’t do with the Cherry Ripe and I admit to preferring a Crunchie over a Violet Crumble. I know, am I really Australian you well might ask.
I think ANZAC biscuits are best when home made, so continue using your delicious recipe.
Hugs
Mina