Understanding Aussie Slang — Funny Misunderstandings and Common Phrases

Australia is known for its laid-back culture, and that extends to its language. Aussie slang can be a challenge for newcomers, often leading to humorous misunderstandings. Here’s a look at some of the most iconic Aussie slang terms and the funny stories behind them.

How Ya Going? – A Common Greeting Misunderstood When Suresh first moved to Melbourne, he thought his English was solid—until he encountered Australian slang. One day, an Aussie student, Harry, greeted him with “How ya going?” Assuming Harry was asking about his mode of transport, Suresh confidently replied, “I am walking there.” Confused, Harry just smiled and walked away. It took days before Suresh realized the phrase simply meant, “How are you?”

Funny Aussie Slang Stories

Bogan – An unrefined or unsophisticated person
Derly (Colombia, 13 years in Australia)
“At a pub, I loudly asked, ‘What is a bogan?’ The sudden silence and stares I got made me realize I had asked something inappropriate in public!”

Hundreds and Thousands – Tiny, colorful sugar sprinkles
Ratna (India, 1 year in Australia)
“When my colleague told me to use ‘hundreds and thousands’ for fairy bread, I asked, ‘Hundreds and thousands of what?’ My question had everyone in stitches!”

Arvo – Afternoon
Jenna (USA, 10 months in Australia)
“Someone said, ‘Have a nice arvo,’ and I thought, ‘I’m not eating an avocado today—how would they know?’”

Thongs – Flip-flops
Josephine (Philippines, 5 years in Australia)
“An Aussie asked to borrow my thongs for the shower. Shocked, I thought, ‘Why does she want my underwear?’ Thankfully, she explained!”

Sweet As! – An expression for ‘awesome’ or ‘great’
Raj (Malaysia, 4 years in Australia)
“My colleague said lunch was ‘sweet as,’ and I kept wondering—sweet as what?”

Woop Woop – A remote or isolated place
Neena (Malaysia, 4 years in Australia)
“Hearing Aussies say ‘He lives in Woop Woop,’ I thought it was an actual town. I even Googled it and found a gift shop instead!”

Goon Bag – Cheap cask wine
Chin Wei (Singapore, 3 years in Australia)
“At a dorm event, someone suggested buying a goon bag. I declined, thinking, ‘I don’t need a new bag!’ The laughter that followed told me I had misunderstood.”

Carry on Like a Pork Chop – Overreact or act dramatically
Maran (India, 4 years in Australia)
“After a tough gym session, I complained, and my trainer said, ‘Stop carrying on like a pork chop.’ I thought he was body-shaming me until he explained the phrase!”

Embrace the Lingo!

Aussie slang adds humor and character to conversations. If you’re new to Australia, don’t stress—just laugh at the mix-ups and enjoy learning the unique expressions. Before you know it, you’ll be using them like a true Aussie!

Have a favorite Aussie slang story? Share it below!