What are like, 10 of the most-used Australian slang words? And how did 'Cor Blimey' come about?

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Ken E

Cor blimey is a corruption of "God blind me" and is not used in Australia. It is British, specifically London and was obsolete even there 50 years or more ago.

Crikey is a corruprtion of "Christ" and has only been used by the late Steve Irwin since about 1955.

Here is a big hint. It is not good to "speak ill of the dead" as they say. but a lot of people in Australia thought Irwin was an man who knew something about animals and how to make money out of impressionable Americans but otherwise was an idiot.

If you try to use the Australian slang listed on some web sites you will sound like an idiot. Much of it is obsolete and some of it is 100 years out of date. The one that is listed above looks OK though.

Ozmaniac

I've never heard an Australian say 'cor blimey'. That's a very British thing and is never used here.

I've never heard anyone except Steve Irwin and a few really old blokes say 'crikey'. Same goes for 'bonzer' and 'cobber'. Don't use any of them, you'll sound like a real galah.

You'll hear g'day but shouldn't say it yourself. Only Aussies ever say it properly and everyone else sounds like an idiot. Oh, and Aussie is pronounced Auzzie.

You'll hear barbie (barbeque), chook (chicken), blue (fight, argument or someone with red hair), kiwi (New Zealander), pom (British person), seppo (septic tank = yank = American), B Y O (bring your own alcohol to a party or restaurant - said as the letters rather than as a word) and plenty of shortened words such as brekkie (breakfast), prezzie (present) etc.

You probably need to know the above so that you understand what they mean, but please don't use them yourself until it comes naturally. Our accent is very difficult to imitate even when you live here and you'll come over sounding like an idiot.

Power Flower

Crikey is quite an old term - mainly used by Steve Irwin or Paul Hogan... don't worry about it. Cor blimey is more an English (UK) term - it's rarely used.

Mate is used a lot.

Bloody is used a lot - where's my bloody keys? who left the bloody oven on? it's bloody hot today

Bugger is very common - I'll be buggered (when you find out an interesting fact), I'm buggered (I'm really tired), BUGGER!!! (when you've just hit your thumb with a hammer, or dropped a plate of food on the ground, kicked your toe, etc)

There's lots more, but your English is obviously perfect... you don't need to slang it up to fit in.

Puppy D

Cor Blimey is british. Crickey is a Catch Phrase of Steve Irwin and is not widely used. Both are just like exclamations (like 'WOW!')

When you listen to us speak you'll realise we don't use a lot of the stereotypical slang. (ie 'G'day' is rarely used, and we don't call women 'Shiela's') We tend to just shorten out words. For example:

How are you? becomes - How are ya?

You'll pick it up quick enough, if your not sure of a word someone uses, ask them. We are generally pretty happy to explain :)

RAWR!!

lol none of the ones you said get used here are 10 that you may need to no.

1. trakies (tracksuite pants)
2. thongs (sandals/flip flops)
3.Fair dinkum (really/ seriously?)
4.Reckon (You recon)
5.Bloody (eg. the bloody dog wont stop braking)
6.$h*thouse (bad/crap eg. that movie was $hithouse)
7.Bugger (damn)
8.Maccas (McDonalds)
9.Mate (friend)
10.G'Day (hello)
11.Barbie (BBQ)
12.Arvo (Afternoon)
13.Servo (pertrol station)
14. Lollies (candy)
15. Icepole (popcsilce)
16. Goodies ( good stuff)
17.Bloke (Male)
18.Chick/Sheila (Female)

Bill C

There are many Australian slang terms, some commonly used, others not so, to narrow the list down to 10 is difficult but here are ones that in my opinion are common and useful when in dialogue with Aussies.

No Worries = (That's OK)
Bloody Oath or Fair Dinkum = (I am telling you the truth)
Mate = ( Good friend or someone who's name you don't know or can't remember)
Bloke = (Male)
Chick/Sheila = (Female) Sheila is rarely used.
Dunny/Loo/Thunder-box = (Toilet)
Thongs = (Casual footwear) Not undergarment, that is a G-string.
Footy = (Football, usually Australian Rules Football or Rugby League)
D*ckhead = (Someone who makes a fool of them self in public). Also known as Yobbo/ Hoon/ Wanker/ Loser/ Dipshit/ F*ckwit/ Goose etc.
Perve = (Admire the opposite sex discreetly)

There are many more slang terms, however for someone not from Australia you could use these without sounding like a goose, I would avoid saying "G'day mate" because for some reason it must be said a certain way, ie casually, to avoid sounding bunged on = (fake).
The word "Crikey!" is an exclamation which is a variation of "Christ!", it had been around long before Steve Irwin used it, but he had a passion for Australianisms and the word was revived and is now more commonly used.

I hope this is helpful. Cheers.

Nono24

Fair dinkum (really)
Reckon (i think! eg, 'the weather is hot' 'I reckon!')
Bloody (adjective eg, 'the weather is bloody hot')
Sh*thouse (bad eg 'it's burnt to the sh*thouse')
W*nker (someone who's full of himself)
Bikkies (i was surprised when my canadian friend was like WTF? A Bikkie is a biscuit)
Bugger (damn)
Bottle-o (you gotta know the bottle-o. It's a bottle shop, usually with a drive thru)
Maccas (McDonalds)
Mate (friend)
G'Day (hello, it's pronounced how it's spelt. Think of the word Good, but only make the g sound, not even go, just g)
Barbie (BBQ)
Arvo/Arvie (Afternoon eg, "i'll see ya this arvo')
Us (funny as it sounds we often use us instead of me or I like if someone is holding a book you will go 'oh give us a look')
Compo (compensation, often said that there is nothing more unaustralian than getting compo you actually deserve)
Servo (pertrol station)

You can read more here:
http://www.aussieslang.com/slang/australian-slang-a.asp
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html
http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozatwar/aussieslang.htm

Aussie the 2nd

This site will give you a run down of what to say & what NOT to say ! lol
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html

Mrs M

Cor blimey is english. It may have been used in Australia in the 1800's. I have never heard anyone say it here.

Nobody says crikey.

You will sound like an idiot if you try to sound like an Australian. Just be yourself. Believe it or not Australia is a very multicultural country these days.

60s Chick

my family sometimes say bloody idiot when they see something they don't like.

tuppenybitz

cor blimey is british

crikey is not used much, that was a steve erwin thing

just talk as you normally do foreigners trying to talk aussie sound stupid

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