arvo
The afternoon.
The Slang MusterAustralian words and expressions
Classic Australian slang
Thirty familiar starting points from across the collection.
Start with familiar Australian words and expressions, then follow each entry for its meaning, an example sentence, usage notes and the evidence behind its history.
New to Australian slang? Read the beginner’s guide →
30 entries · Search and filter this collection →
Aussie
An Australian person; Australian, as an adjective.
back of Bourke
A place considered extremely remote or far from major settlement.
barbie
A barbecue.
battler
Someone who keeps going despite hardship; often an ordinary person doing it tough.
beaut
Excellent, very good or pleasing; also an excellent person or thing.
beyond the black stump
Beyond settled country; extremely remote.
billy
A metal container used for boiling water, especially over a campfire.
bloke
A man; often an ordinary or familiar man.
Read the note on usagebluey
Several Australian senses, especially a red-haired person; historically also swag/blanket, summons and other uses.
Read the note on usagebogan
A person stereotyped as uncultured or unsophisticated.
Read the note on usagebonzer
Excellent or first-rate.
bottle-o
A bottle shop or liquor store; historically also a bottle collector.
Read the note on usagebung
Incapacitated, exhausted, broken or ruined; in go bung, to fail, collapse, die or become bankrupt, according to context.
Read the note on usagebush telegraph
The rapid informal spread of news by word of mouth.
Read the note on usagechook
A domestic fowl or chicken.
cobber
A friend or companion.
cooee
A long, carrying call used to attract attention over distance.
Read the note on usagecrook
Bad, unpleasant, unsatisfactory or ill; also dishonest/illegal in Australian senses, and in go crook, angry or abusive.
digger
An Australian soldier, especially one of the First World War.
Read the note on usagedinkum
Genuine, honest or true.
drongo
A fool or incompetent person.
fair go
A reasonable chance, equitable treatment, or an appeal for fairness.
furphy
A rumour, false report or improbable story.
hard yakka
Hard physical work.
Read the note on usagemate
A friend, companion or familiar form of address.
Read the note on usageshe’ll be apples
Everything will be all right.
Read the note on usagesheila
A woman.
Read the note on usagestrewth
An exclamation of surprise, annoyance or emphasis.
wowser
A puritanical person who disapproves of drinking or pleasure.