Aussie Lingo: A Traveler's Guide to Australian Slang

Australians have a famously colourful way with language, and a little fluency goes a long way toward feeling at home Down Under. Here is a traveler's guide to Aussie lingo — and the surprising history behind the accent.

Where the accent came from

Contrary to the myth that Australian English descends from London Cockney, the early convicts came from across Britain, Ireland and the colonies. Crammed together on long voyages, they couldn't understand one another's dialects and gradually settled on a neutral, blended way of speaking. The result is an accent that — unusually — reveals little about a speaker's region or class.

Words worth knowing

• "Brekkie" — breakfast
• "Arvo" — afternoon
• "Bevvies" — beverages
• "Servo" — petrol station
• "Bottle-o" — liquor store
• "Heaps" — a lot
• "No worries" — you're welcome / it's fine

Travel with the locals

Swain Destinations pairs travelers with expert local guides across Australia, so the culture — language and all — becomes part of the journey.