Wait, What Did You Just Say?

10 Aussie Slang Words That’ll Wreck Your Brain (and Make You Laugh Anyway)

When I first moved to Australia, I thought I was fluent in English.
Spoiler: I was not ready.
Because Aussies don’t just shorten words—they practically invent a whole new language. And if you’re new here? Good luck keeping up.

So if you've ever nodded politely while secretly thinking, What the hell did they just say?, this one's for you.

Here are 10 hardcore Aussie slang words that had me completely baffled—and now live rent-free in my brain.

1. Carked It

Died.
➡ “My laptop carked it.”
Could be a person, a dog, or your phone battery. Equal parts dramatic and casual.

2. Rooted

Exhausted… or something very R-rated.
➡ “I’m absolutely rooted.”
Handle with care. Safe in a tired context. Not so safe... in other situations

3. Ripper / Bloody Ripper

Really good, awesome.
➡ “That was a bloody ripper of a game.”
The more intense the adjective, the more Aussie it becomes. Add “bloody” for flavour.

4. Bludger

Someone who’s lazy or avoids work.
➡ “That bloke’s a bludger.”
Usually said with an eye-roll. The unspoken rule: everyone knows one.

5. Drongo

An idiot, a fool.
➡ “He backed into his own fence—what a drongo.”
Old-school but still in rotation, especially from your mate’s dad.

6. Bogan

A rough-around-the-edges Aussie. Think flanno shirts, uggs, VB cans.
➡ “He’s a bit of a bogan, but a good bloke.”
Sometimes offensive, sometimes affectionate—depends on how you say it.

7. Munted

Broken, wrecked, or very drunk.
➡ “That chair’s completely munted.”
Also: “I was so munted last night I forgot my own name.”

8. Knackered

Completely exhausted.
➡ “I’m absolutely knackered after that hike.”
It’s British in origin, but Aussies use it like it’s home-grown.

9. On the Turps

Drinking heavily.
➡ “He’s been on the turps since midday.”
Slang for having a solid sesh at the pub. Often followed by being #2, rooted.

10. Bog-Standard

Totally ordinary or basic.
➡ “It’s just a bog-standard ute, nothing flash.”
Sounds dramatic, but just means... plain. Also: wildly satisfying to say.

Bonus: Having a Barry Crocker

Having a shocker / a bad day (rhyming slang: Barry Crocker = shocker)
➡ “I forgot my wallet, spilled coffee on myself, then missed the train. Had a Barry, mate.”
Named after the singer—but now forever known as the official Aussie term for a craptastic day.

Learning Aussie slang is a journey. At first, you’ll feel like you're in a sitcom with no subtitles. But one day, you’ll casually say, “I was on the turps last night, now I’m knackered and having a full Barry,” and boom—you’re fluent, mate.