Most of us have heard the classic Aussie slang words, maybe you’ve been greeted with a g’day mate or asked how your arvo is going, but have you ever had a conversation where it feels like half the words are made up? Then this guide is for you! Here are some Aussie slang words that you might not know.

1.    Woop Woop

Woop Woop is used to refer to a place in the middle of nowhere. People use it to signify that a location is far away, unfamiliar to them, and difficult to get to.

For example, “My parents place is so far, out near whoop whoop”

Fun fact! There is no consensus on where the word originally derived from but many think it may have been from a small sawmill town near Perth that was abandoned in 1984.

2.    Chockers / Chock-a-block

 In these socially distanced Covid times, you definitely don’t want go to a place that is chockers! Chockers or chock-a-block means extremely full or crowded. You can use it for people or things.

For example, “The supermarket was absolutely chockers, I could barely move!” OR, “The fridge is chock-a-block, I don’t think we can fit anymore food.”

3.    U-ey

As someone who is lost more often than not, “chuck a u-ey” is a common part of my vocabulary. Since Australians can never say the full word, u-ey is an abbreviation of U-Turn, which is a 180 degree turn made while driving.

For example, “Oh no I missed my exit! It’s okay, I’ll chuck a U-ey”.

A warning - each state has different U-turn rules, so make sure you read the road signs!

4.    Bludger

Ever had do a whole group project by yourself because your partner would not contribute? Then you most likely know what its like to be partnered with a bludger. A bludger means someone who is lazy and relies on others do things for them.

For example, “They haven’t been at work all week? They are such a bludger.”

5.    Trackie Dacks

As the weather cools down, you might want to swap your shorts for some trackie dacks! Trackie dacks are slang for tracksuit pants or sweatpants.

6.    Bin Chicken

A regular sighting at UNSW, bin chickens are always scavenging for food out of bins or sometimes might grab your food right off the table! Trust me, I’ve learnt the hard way!  

Bin chickens is slang for the Australian white ibis, which are commonly seen in Australian urban centres, like Sydney.

7.    Devo

Many aussie slang words mostly consist of shortening words and adding an ‘o’ at the end. Devo is no exception! Devo is short for devastated.

For example, “I’m so devo that its been raining all week. I wanted to go to the beach.”