Latest news with #AussieSlang
SBS Australia
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Aussie slang: the art of friendly insults
More resources for language educators Watch Weird and Wonderful Aussie English on SBS On Demand HOWIE: Do you feel like you understand English… and then the moment you arrive in Australia, suddenly you don't? I study language and the way people use it. I grew up in the US, so I thought I knew English really well. But when I first got here, a friend texted me and said: 'Let's meet in the arvo. Maybe 1pm.' I looked everywhere for a café called Arvo. Turns out "arvo" means "afternoon." Australians use a lot of slang. It can be weird and confusing, especially if you're new here. This series explores why we use Aussie slang, and where these words come from. Australians love to shorten words. Why? Because we like to sound easygoing and relaxed. Even our folk heroes are chill. One word for this kind of laidback character is 'larrikin.' And Aussies love to joke around – with coworkers, friends, even strangers. We even have a word for this kind of teasing: 'chiacking.' It started as a British word, but we made it our own. 'Chiack' probably came from an old fruit-seller's call: Over time, it turned into the playful banter we know today. A kind of friendly teasing — a way to show you like someone. If someone warns you about dangerous koalas in the trees — 'drop bears' — don't worry. They're not real. It's just more Aussie humour. Nicknames are another way we show friendliness. We like to add an -o or -ie to people's names: John becomes Jonno Sharon becomes Shazza Gary becomes Gazza Albo and Scomo are short for Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison. You don't give yourself a nickname — your mates do. Aussies love being informal. It's part of our identity — especially compared to more formal cultures like Britain. That's why even in serious places like workplaces or Parliament, we still use nicknames and casual talk. And yes, we swear a lot — but even swearing can be friendly here. Some of our favourite words? 'Bugger,' 'bastard,' 'bullshit' — and especially 'bloody.' 'Bloody' has been called The Great Australian Adjective. We say things like 'bloody tough' when something is really bad. It helps us stay grounded — and human. No matter who you are, Aussies will probably call you "mate." Originally, 'mate' meant a friend or work partner. But in Australia, it became something more. It reflects a history of shared work, food, and space. A symbol of equality and connection. Words like 'mate,' 'larrikin,' and 'chiacking' all came from Britain — but we gave them new life. Australian English is always changing. We're constantly adding new words and new meanings. Some of our freshest words come from migrants. We used to call the kookaburra things like 'laughing jackass' or 'ha-ha duck' before using its proper Wiradjuri name. Today, we're embracing more migrant words than ever: Foods like 'nasi goreng' Friendly terms like 'habib' 'Habib' isn't replacing 'mate' — it's just another way to show friendship in a diverse Australia. One time, a tradie came to fix the plumbing at my house. My partner made him a cup of tea. He said, 'That's a grouse cup of tea.' We weren't sure if that was good or bad. We looked it up — 'grouse' means 'really good!' Aussie English can be weird. But that's what makes it so wonderful. Aussies joke, tease, and give nicknames to show they care. If they're doing it with you — it means they probably like you. You can be part of it too. Just keep listening, keep speaking — and one day, you'll be adding your own words to Aussie English. Weird and Wonderful Aussie English Video production company: New Mac Video Agency
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
American tourist panics over common Aussie phrase that confuses visitors: 'How do you know which one means yes?'
An American visitor has sparked an online debate that has thousands of Australians united in agreement. The man admitted he was completely stumped by two of Australia's most commonly used (but least understood) expressions: 'yeah, nah' and 'nah, yeah.' The confused tourist took to a Reddit forum to share their linguistic dilemma - and what followed was a masterclass in Aussie slang that left thousands in stitches. 'Sometimes it seems like 'yeah, nah' means no, but other times it feels like a soft yes or just part of the flow,' he asked. 'Is there a logic to this?' As it turns out, yes - but also… no. Australians are renowned worldwide for their love of abbreviations, sarcasm, and generally refusing to give a straight answer, and this latest viral thread proves that even the yesses and nos aren't always what they seem. 'Yeah, nah = no, Nah, yeah = yes,' one used commented. 'The first word is a soft opening colloquialism. The second word is always the intended answer/response,' another added with more context. How to understand 'yeah, nah' and 'nah, yeah' in Australia It all depends on the order, the tone, and the context: 'Yeah, nah' = No. A polite way to disagree. 'Nah, yeah' = Yes. They're on board - probably reluctantly - but they're in. 'Yeah, nah, yeah' = A strong yes 'Nah, yeah, nah' = A definitive no Others also agreed, but said the meaning also had a lot to do with the tone. 'In my head, when I say 'yeah, nah' or 'nah, yeah' I'm trying to indicate that I'm listening to your pov [point of view], I've considered some fair points in the argument that supports your position, but, in my pov, I think the opposite,' another explained. Whereas some viewed the slang as a way to agree or disagree with someone. 'As in 'yes (yeah,) I agree that this thing is wrong (nah)' or 'no (nah,) I agree (yeah) that idea just proposed wouldn't work,' one user broke down. Others joked that Aussie slang is like a secret code with newcomers simply expected to figure it out eventually. One thing tourists do seem to agree on however, is Australia's 'unique' sense of humour. A recent Reddit post saw thousands come together to dissect the most baffling things about the island country, including its size, strange population density and distinct 'banter'. 'The banter is amazing,' one said. 'Aussies are surprisingly quick and have a great sense of humour. Also they tend to have a darker, irreverent taste in jokes. Makes for good entertainment.' 'A lot of the best British comics use same humour as Australians but make it more polite and accessible somehow,' another added. 'Ironically Australian comedians are substantially less funny than people you'd meet on the street.' Australian's spelling on the other hand, has many scratching their heads. A Norwegian woman who has settled in Australia has described how confusing some of the local 'lingo' is in a text message sent from her boyfriend. Synnsa took to TikTok to share a picture of the exchange, which saw her partner try to fit in as many colloquialisms as he could in the space of a paragraph-long sentence. 'Just gonna head down to the servo later this arvo gonna pick up some choccy milk and a pack of durries, did you want anything from the bottlo cuz I'm not here to f*** spiders am I,' he had written. Synnsa joked that she had studied English for 12 years and still couldn't make out what he was trying to say. 'Literally no Aussie says the f*** spiders thing. Unless they're from Melbourne,' one woman responded. 'Aw man I could really go for some choccy milk right now,' said another. One woman translated: 'I'm just going to the service station (petrol station) later this afternoon to grab a pack of cigarettes. Do you want anything from the liquor store?'
