G' Day mate: A guide to Australian language

Australia is fast becoming a popular destination for undergraduate students looking for a study abroad experience. QS Topuniversities provides a key to speaking and understanding the Australian language so you don't put your foot in it.

Greetings

G'Day mate is probably the most widely known Australian term and is used when greeting your friend (cobber) or mate. However, it's probably not a good idea to use it when addressing your undergraduate lecturer: keep that to a formality.

Sayings

We all have ways to describe and comment on things we see or hear. Below are a few that you're likely to hear in the land down under.

Holy dooley!: an exclamation of surprise = "Good heavens!", "My goodness!" Give it a burl: try it, have a go Good onya: good for you, well done Grouse (adj.): great, terrific, very good Rip snorter or ripper: great, fantastic She'll be right: it'll turn out okay Spiffy, pretty spiffy: great, excellent

You may be feeling a bit 'gobsmacked' (surprised or astounded) with all of this Aussie slang but it's 'fair dinkum' (true, genuine). Australians can 'yabber' (talk a lot) so listen out for these sayings and it won't be long before some of them creep into your vocabulary. Go on, give it a burl!

Time Out

Travel and fun are as much a part of the study abroad experience for an undergraduate student as are assignments and lectures: just make sure you know where you can find a 'servo' (petrol station) and look out for 'roos' (kangaroos) along the way. Dozens of Aussie slang words use 'o' at the end. A smoko is a cigarette break. A Salvo is someone from the Salvation Army. A bottle-o is a bottle shop (off licence) and so on.

Back of Bourke or Beyond the Black Stump: a long way away, the back of nowhere Brizzie or Brisvegas: Brisbane, state capital of Queensland Coathanger: Sydney Harbour bridge Freo: Fremantle in Western Australia Never Never: the Outback, centre of Australia.

And the people you might meet along the way

Banana bender or a Cane Toad: a person from Queensland Cockroach: a person from New South Wales Crow eater: a person from South Australia Larrikin: a 'bloke' who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster.

Sport

Australia is a sports-mad country and they're good at it too! So if sports are your passion you'll feel right at home. For those of you who struggle to know the difference between football and rugby here are a few tips to help you with your research.

Gabba: Wooloongabba - the Brisbane cricket ground Footy: Australian Rules football (in Victoria and South Australia) and Rugby League (in NSW and Queensland). Gromit: inexperienced young surfer Nipper: young surf lifesaver Pozzy: position - get a good pozzy at the footy stadium Shark biscuit: somebody new to surfing WACA (pron. whacker): Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth cricket ground.

What to wear and what not to wear

Fashion varies around the world but more often than not, anything goes. If you're new to the country you may not want to make a spectacle of yourself (just yet anyway) so here a few items of clothing you may not have heard of.

Grundies: undies, underwear Cozzie or Togs: swimming costume Daks or Strides: trousers Trackie daks/dacks: tracksuit pants Trackies: track suit Sunnies: sunglasses Thongs: cheap rubber backless sandals.

Eating and drinking

Part of the fun of studying abroad in a new country is experiencing the culture and the food. It may seem strange to ask for a 'dead horse' (tomato sauce) to go with your fries - and you can probably only get away with saying this in the Outback rather than in a refined Sydney brasserie - and it may not always be obvious to go to the milk bar for food (corner shop that sells takeaway food). Just make sure that when you've finished your meal, you ask for the 'docket' (bill or receipt) before you leave!

Avos: avocados Coldie: a beer Counter lunch/Countery: pub lunch Cut lunch: sandwiches Sanger: sandwich Dead horse: tomato sauce Dog's eye: meat pie Flake: shark's flesh (sold in fish & chips shops) Esky: large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc. Icy pole, ice block: popsicle, lollypop Maccas (pron. "mackers"): McDonald's (the hamburger place) Pav: Pavlova - a rich, creamy Australian dessert Snag: sausage Tucker: food Tucker-bag: food bag

Australian's love their 'barbies' (BBQ) and these are often the focal point of any gathering. If you're invited to a barbie you will be asked to bring a plate. This means you need to bring your own food to the party. It doesn't mean the hosts are short of crockery!

Studying

This is why you've chosen to go to Australia. It's all about studying abroad after all! But make sure you have a balance between studying and experiencing the land down under. It doesn't have to be all yakka (work) and no play.

Conch (adj. conchy): a conscientious person. Somebody who would rather work or study than go out and enjoy him/herself. Dux: top of the class (n.); to be top of the class (v.) "She duxed four of her subjects". Good oil: useful information, a good idea, the truth Tall poppies: successful people.

And a few quirky ones that may just come in handy:

Ankle biter: small child Aussie Salute: brushing flies away Dunny: outside lavatory Dunny budgie: blowfly Galah: fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes. Moolah: money.