Dictionary for Latins in Australia: Key words and expressions for everyday life

In this post you will find a selected group of words, phrases and expressions that are very common in Australia and that I am absolutely sure will be useful to you during your stay. 

Believe it or not Australians have a lot of abbreviations or words (some created by them) that you need to know because they are going to be present at work, in the day to day even when you are in the doctor’s room. 

I did not know many of these words when I arrived and many times my cheeks blushed and I was embarrassed. Also it was difficult for me to understand the meaning and use them in sentences, because they need to be understood in a context. Here is the list with some examples!

Aussie 'Day to Day' vocab

Available: Accesible, obtainable 

• The house will be available for renting from next week

Awkward: Uncomfortable

He asked an awkward question

Arvo: Abreviación de afternoon

B&B: Bed & Breakfast. It is a type of accommodation that offers accomodation and also breakfast, you will see this more often in towns. It seesms like a hotel but smaller and more family oriented.

Barbie: To make a BBQ/ Barbecue

Bottle shop o Bottle-o: retail store that sells alcoholic beverages.

Bloody: express annoyance or emphasis. It's considered mildly vulgar.

• Bloody expensive

• That was a bloody good movie!

Bucks: Dollars.

• Bucks = 10 dólares.

Cab: Taxi.

• I will get a cab for work

Catch you later: See you later

Come along: to accompany someone or to join in an activity. It can also imply that someone is making progress in a task or situation

• How is the project coming along?

Countryside: Rural area

Challenging: Something that presents difficulties or requires effort to overcome.

• My mother in-law is very challenging = Mi suegra es muy complicada 

Chores: Routine tasks that are typically done around the house. These can include activities like cleaning, doing laundry, washing dishes, cooking, and yard work.

• We divide the house chores equally = Nosotros dividimos los oficios de la casa por igual. 

Chubby: someone or something that is slightly overweight, typically in a way that is considered cute.

Deal with: To manage or handle a situation

• She is dealing with all sorts of the problems at work

Doona: To manage or handle a situation. It’s a thick, soft blanket filled with materials like down, feathers, or synthetic fibers, designed to keep you warm

Double check: Verify or confirm something again to ensure accuracy or correctness

Drop Off: To deliver someone or something to a specific place

• My mother drop me off in the train station  

Eski: Type of container or cooler used to keep beverages cold.

Flat: Surface that is level, smooth, and without bumps or irregularities.

• "The table is flat."

When is about an electronic device it means that the battery runnned out completely.

• My laptop went flat = Se me descargó el computador 

Flat: Flat also refers to an apartment

Footy: Australian Football

For sure!: Indicate certainty or agreement. It means "definitely" or "without a doubt.

• Are we going to the game? For sure!

Gap: A space or interval between two things, often used to indicate a difference or a lack of something.

• There is a gap in the market

• There is a gap between the train and the platform

Gday: is an informal greeting commonly used in Australia. It's a friendly way to say "good day"

Get on: To board or enter

• Get on the bus

Get off: To disembark or leave

• Get off the bus

Give a shot: try something or attempt to do something, often when you're unsure of the outcome. It refers to taking a chance.

Go crazy: to act in an uncontrolled or wild manner, often associated with excitement or enthusiasm

• Let’s just go crazy tonight

• I’m about to go crazy!

Hang around: to stay in a place without a specific purpose or to spend time with someone casually

Heaps: Informal term that means a large amount or a lot of something

• There are heaps of mosquitos in this town = Means there are a lot of mosquitos in town

• I have heaps of work to do = means you have a lot of work to do

Headquarter: refers to the main office or central location of an organization

Homebrand: from the supermarket's own brand

How is it going?: It’s the same as "How are you?"

Issue (as verb): Means to formally provide something, like documents or items. For example issue date of a passport.

Issue (as noun): problem. They need to solve the issue with the energy

It does not work: Something is not functioning properly or as intended. It is used to refer to a relationship or a job.

Just: refers to something that has happened only a few minutes ago or is exactly what you expected.

• He is just as I imagined

• The delivery just has arrived

Kind of: informal phrase used to indicate a degree or a certain extent of something. It can mean "somewhat" or "a little".

• The movie was kind of boring = The movie was somewhat boring.

Last one left: This expression refers to the last thing available.

• Are there any beers in the fridge? Yes, last one left

Layout: plan or design of a house or a particular place.

Let me know: casual way of asking someone to inform you about something later. It expresses a desire to be updated or to receive information.

Loaf: a slice of bread or several slices of bread (loaves).

Loo: toilet.

Maccas: abbreviation for McDonald’s.

Mozzy: mosquito.

Must-have: term used to describe something that is considered essential or highly desirable.

Never mind: is a phrase used to indicate that something is not important or that the listener shouldn't worry about it.

No drama/s: the same as "no worries" to refer to that there is no problem.

No worries: it’s the Australian way of saying "don’t worry".

One of a kind: unique/exclusive.

• That flower vase is one of a kind: That vase is unique.

Oppshop: refers to a store where you can find secondhand items.

Out of your pocket: someone is paying for something out of their personal funds rather than using company money, government funds, or any other source.

• The bill in the doctor was paid from my own pocket

Over the counter: refers to medications or products that can be purchased without a prescription from a healthcare provider. These items are available for sale directly to consumers at pharmacies, supermarkets, or other retail locations

• Some medicines in Australia are not over the counter

Own: to possess or have something as one's property.

• I have my own business

Oz: a way to refer to Australia.

Package: refers to a wrapped or boxed item, typically for shipping or delivery

Pardon: it is a term used to ask the other person to repeat what they said because you couldn’t hear them properly.

Pedestrians: refers to people who are walking, especially in areas designed for walking, such as streets, sidewalks.

Pick up:

To lift or raise something

• I need to pick up the book from the floor = means to lift the book off the ground.

To collect someone or something

• I will pick you up at the airport = to go to the airport to collect the person.

The point to pick up the kid is near the entrance: The point to pick up the kids is at the entrance.

Pick up the phone: answer the phone.

Prezzy: gift.

Queue: line.

• There was a long queue in the bank

Quirky: strange, extravagant, unconventional.

• He has a quirky sense of humor

Rain check: means to reschedule an appointment. If you were supposed to go out with someone and they say if they can rain check, it means something came up and they want to reschedule the commitment for another day.

Rapt: to be completely fascinated by something.

Rely on: means to trust or depend on something.

• I rely on public transport to go to work

Rip off: to scam someone.

Rego: abbreviation that refers to the "registration" of vehicles. It is the process by which a vehicle is officially registered to operate on public roads

Reckon: I reckon = I think that.

Reliable: describe someone or something that can be trusted to perform well or to consistently meet expectations

• The source of information is very reliable

Roughly: approximately.

See you later: see you later or until later. It’s used for farewells at the end.

Sicky: abbreviation of sick day – a medical incapacity day, the reason for not being able to go to work. In most cases, a medical excuse is needed to support the day of absence.

Stuffed: mean feeling exhausted or overwhelmed also being very full, especially after eating.

Struggle: means battle, combat, effort. It’s used to say that you are struggling with something.

• I am struggling with the new job

Shy: describe someone who feels nervous or uncomfortable in social situations.

Senior: older adults, but it also refers to a higher rank in a job position.

• He is the senior manager

Sunnies: sunglasses.

Ta: thank you – thanks.

Tantrum: emotional outburst, typically involving anger or frustration, often characterized by crying, shouting, or uncontrolled behavior

Telly: television.

Tradie: a person who works in construction.

To point: is a verb that means to indicate or direct attention to something, often by extending a finger or a hand towards it.

To be on time: to arrive on time. It’s used to refer to you or someone exactly on time to a place.

• He arrived at the school on time

(To be) late: arrive after the expected or scheduled time.

• She is always late

(To be) fed up: to be annoyed, frustrated, or tired of something, often because it has been going on for too long or has become intolerable.

• I am so fed up of taking the bins out

(To be) a good egg: to be a good person.

He is such a good egg: He is such a good person.

Taking the piss: to make fun of someone or something. Not to take it seriously.

Toiletries: hygiene items that include toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant.

Touch on: used to say that the Myki has been activated.

Touch off: used to say that the Myki has been deactivated.

Ute: truck with a tray.

Your shout: your turn to treat or invite someone to eat.

Wasted: technically means something that is very worn out, but colloquially it refers to someone who is completely drunk.

Well: is sometimes used to start a sentence and say "well."

• Well! The party was great

Where are you from: This question can mean what country you are from, but it can also sometimes refer to which suburb you live in (depending on the context).

Wholemeal: means made with wholemeal flour.

Whole grain: means that the product contains seeds.

Whole grain bread: bread with seeds.

Worth: value. It is used to say that something is valuable

• The park is beautiful, it’s worth a visit

Wondering: Thinking about something.

• I wonder if you are coming to the party

Summing up

We hope you have enjoyed our edition on everyday words. Keep reading the rest of our editions, which will be organized by specific themes, and try to learn them!