Speaking Australian

Yes, you're already a fluent English speaker. No, that's not enough.

The "how are you" non-question

• "How ya going?" / "How are you?" — said almost as a greeting, not a question. Standard response: "Good, thanks, you?" or just "Good thanks." Don't launch into how your day's actually been unless you're with a friend.

Supermarket pronunciation

• Woolworths → "Woolies"
• McDonald's → "Maccas"
• Coles is Coles, but you'll hear "the Coles" rarely
• Bottle shop → "the bottle-o"
• Service station → "servo"
• Petrol station → "servo" (same thing)
• Afternoon → "arvo"
• Sausage → "snag"
• Tradesperson → "tradie"
• Politician → "pollie"

"Yeah nah" / "nah yeah"

• "Yeah nah" — soft no. "Want another beer?" / "Yeah nah I'm right thanks."
• "Nah yeah" — soft yes. "Coming to the BBQ?" / "Nah yeah, see you there."
• The last word is the answer. The first word softens it.

Common idioms

• "How are you going?" — How are you? (not "where are you going")
• "No worries" — fine / you're welcome / it's OK / understood.
• "Cheers" — thanks (also when clinking glasses, but most common as "thanks" in shops and emails).
• "Ta" — thanks (very common, especially in older speakers).
• "Heaps" — a lot. "Heaps of people," "thanks heaps."
• "Reckon" — think / believe. "I reckon we should go now."
• "Stoked" — really happy / excited.
• "Keen" — interested in doing it. "I'm keen for Saturday."
• "Fair dinkum" — genuine, real. ("Fair dinkum, mate?" = "Really, are you serious?")
• "Bloody" — mild emphasiser. Not a swear word.
• "Heaps good" — really good (heard mostly in SA).
• "Bottle-o" — bottle shop, liquor store.
• "Drongo" — idiot. Affectionate, usually.
• "She'll be right" — it'll be fine.
• "Crook" — sick / unwell. "I'm a bit crook today."
• "Knock off" — finish work. "Knock-off time."
• "Smoko" — work break (originally for smoking, now any break).
• "Brekkie" — breakfast.
• "Spit the dummy" — throw a tantrum (a dummy is a baby's pacifier).
• "Fair go" — give someone a fair chance.

A few cultural notes

• First names from day one. Even with managers, doctors and most professionals (Mr / Mrs / Ms only really used in formal letters and with very senior people).
• Australians can be self-deprecating in a way that confuses newcomers from cultures where status is more emphasised. It's not low self-esteem — it's the social code.
• Tall poppy syndrome — Australians don't love it when people show off achievements. Quiet competence travels further.
• BYO ("bring your own") — common at restaurants and house parties. At a BYO restaurant you bring your own wine. At a BBQ you bring your own meat (sometimes).