Sydney Spy Classic
Australian Language Lesson – Lesson 3
Third lesson! Once again, this is a practical use of Australian language. You won’t learn useless phrases like “Sanga” or “Hey, let’s go to Adelaide” here.
Today’s Lesson: "Youthful Slang"
Much of the slang you hear in Neighbours is scarcely used in real Australian life. The writers often use archaic phrases on purpose as they have the foreign audience in mind. In the real world, a lot of American-born slang is used (Cool, Awesome, Crap, You suck). Much of the older Australian slang like “Cobber”, “Fair Dinkum” or “She’s apples” will be used scarcely by the younger generations to be ironic. Today you’ll learn some exciting words you can use every single day,
Actually Used Slang:
- "I’m good/I’m right"
You can say this when refusing something being offered to you.
“Would you like some more dripping?”
“I’m right, thanks.”
I didn’t know this was an Australian thing until I was talking with an American and they pointed it out. I wasn’t even aware that I said it.
- "G’day"
Older generations use it a lot more but it still exists. “Hey” is probably used as much, if not more, than “G’day” these days. A lot of people are quite anal about the Americanisation of the younger Australian generations and their use of “Hey” over “G'day” is a often starting point.
- "Fair enough"
It’s such a versatile phrase, it can be used in almost every situation. It can function as a neutral yet friendly acknowledgement to any statement. It’s important to have a bit of a rising intonation at the end or else you’ll sound abrupt and “un-Australian”.
“I’m so hungry!”
“Fair enough”
“You’re a tool!”
“Fair enough”
- "Maccas"
McDonalds
- "Unco"
“Unco” is short for uncoordinated, you use it to describe someone clumsy.
(After watching someone trip)
“Unco!”
(Watching women’s gymnastics)
“I couldn’t do that! I’m such an unco.”
- "Pov/Povo"
Like with “unco”, it’s the shortening of a word: “poverty”. Young folk say it when they are lacking in funds. In dissecting its origin I never realised how un-PC it is, oh well.
“Hey, wanna go to Maccas?”
“Can’t, I’m too pov.”
“Lets go pay for excessive mark-ups at General Pants Co.”
“I’m so povo today, sorry”
- "Root"
This can be a transitive verb meaning “to have sex with” or a noun, “a root”, to mean “sex”
“Fancy a root?”
“Did you root him/her?”
“I need a root”
This is pretty much only used in certain phrases, most foreigners tend to misuse it. E.g. “I hope you get lots of root.”
- "Bloody"
A popular quantifier, like “very” but with more emphasis and it’s very casual.
“You’re bloody stupid!” (Me to all Laura Gissara haters)
“Damn my bloody bloody hands” (Lady McBeth)
- "Pretty"
Australians use this word as a quantifier a lot more than other countries. It’s not as strong as “Bloody”. It translates best to “quite”
“She’s pretty!”
“She’s ugly!”
“She’s pretty ugly!”
- "Dodgy"
You use this to describe a location that seems slummy or suspicious.
“Kings Cross? That place is pretty dodgy!”
Also used with an object or food looking to be in poor condition or unreliable.
“Those eggs look a bit dodgy, the culture with talking inhabitants living in the membrane is a dead giveaway”
- "It’s a hole!"
Describing a location of inferior quality:
“Canberra’s a hole.”
“The University of Western Sydney is a hole.”
- "Mate"
Read all about MATE here.
Schoolyard Slang
School slang changes from school to school. Here are some popular ones I remember.
- "To nugget"
The extremely popular activity of school children. “Nuggetting” migrated from Great Britain in 2002. It involves:
1. Stealing someone’s bag
2. Emptying out all the contents
3. Turning the bag inside out
4. Putting everything back in and zipping the bag back up again.
It’s called a “nugget” because the bag’s new form resembles.. a nugget. Almost everything is a target for nuggetting. Even those massive private school schoolbags that could be used for flood control in case of emergency. There’s a rule where if you catch the person in the process of nuggetting the bag, they have to put it back to normal. I could write a whole entry on this phenomena!
“ARRgH! I’ve been nuggetted!”
- "Chat"
Means bad/sucks:
“Lets go have some crepes at Chatswood!”
“That’s chat idea.”
- "Jigging"
Means truanting:
“You going to 5th Period? It’s Irish Jigging.”
“Nah, I’m jigging it.”
Slang Used 10 Years Ago
These words were once commonly used not so long ago, some are still used but their popularity has trickled away.
"Ace!" – Cool!
“Ace of Base are bloody ace!”
"S***house!" – Sucks!
“Ace of Base are totally s***house!”
"Festy!" – Gross!
“Warm milk is festy!”
"Suck eggs!" – Sucked in!
Australian Language Lesson #1 and #2
Dodgy or ace lesson? What did I miss? Add a comment..