12 Australian Slang Words to Globalize Your Word Game
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Arvo
Scrabble score: 7 points
Words With Friends score: 8 points
Down in Australia (and some other parts of the world), “ARVO” is an informal way to say “afternoon.” It’s a common example of everyday Australian slang.
Example: “Do you have any plans today? If not, we’re heading down to the beach in the arvo. Want to come?”
Aggro
Scrabble score: 7 points
Words With Friends score: 9 points
“AGGRO” is a shortened form of “aggressive.” It denotes that a person or animal is acting in a violent or dangerous way.
Example: “I thought that dog was friendly, but it got real aggro when I approached it.”
Barbie
Scrabble score: 10 points
Words With Friends score: 12 points
“BARBIE” is code for the barbeque in Australian slang. Basically, it’s the nickname for a grill. And considering all of the delicious food that gets prepared on grills, and pet name seems appropriate.
Example: “Yeah, I’m on my way to the party. I’m just stopping by the store to pick up some extra brisques for the barbie.”
Buggered
Scrabble score: 13 points
Words With Friends score: 17 points
Sometimes, you end up exhausted from your job, working out or playing a sport. You simply have no energy left. When that happens, what you are is BUGGERED. This is different from the meaning of “buggered” in the United Kingdom. Over there, it means something is messed up or you’re in trouble.
Example: “Ugh, I went for a run before coming into work today. I wish I hadn’t. I’m completely buggered now.”
Chook
Scrabble score: 14 points
Words With Friends score: 14 points
Every region has its own special names for common animals. Australia is no exception. For chicken, almost everyone’s favorite poultry, a typical name that Australians use is “CHOOK.”
Example: “Did you remember to pick up the chook for tomorrow’s dinner?”
Cobber
Scrabble score: 12 points
Words With Friends score: 15 points
If you have a close friend, you might have your own special term for them. In Australia, the appropriate thing to call them would be a “COBBER,” which means they are your buddy or pal.
Example: “I reckon I’ll head downtown to hang out with my cobber, Terry.”
Daks
Scrabble score: 9 points
Words With Friends score: 9 points
“DAKS” is definitely a word that might confuse some non-Australians the first time they hear it. And they might accidentally use it without knowing what it means. Daks, in Australia, refer to someone’s underwear.
Example: “That poor girl over got her trousers caught on the mesh fence. It left a huge hole and her daks were showing.”
Drongo
Scrabble score: 8 points
Words With Friends score: 10 points
When someone’s being especially foolish or even idiotic, and you need to call it like you see it, you can call them a “DRONGO.” You’ll find several Australian slang words describing foolish people.
Example: “Look at that drongo just standing in the middle of the road. He’s going to get hit.”
Galah
Scrabble score: 9 points
Words With Friends score: 10 points
When someone’s acting like a fool or downright idiotic, calling them a “GALAH” is an appropriate, and possibly belittling, response. The term was derived from an Australian bird called a galah, so you might say its their way of calling someone a “birdbrain.”
Example: “That galah almost set the kitchen on fire while he was cooking dinner.”
Pash
Scrabble score: 9 points
Words With Friends score: 9 points
In some cultures, “PASH” refers to romantic crushes. As an Australian slang term, it goes a step further by describing a passionate kiss or make-out session.
Example: “Ugh, I just walked in on my mom and her boyfriend having a pash in the living room.”
Sheila
Scrabble score: 9 points
Words With Friends score: 9 points
“SHEILA” is a common way to refer to a young woman. It’s a bit of an outdated Australian slang word. An older or more traditional person might use it as a term of endearment, but someone younger or more modern might use it ironically for comedic effect.
Example: “Has anyone seen that young sheila who’s been waiting on us? I wanted to order another drink.”
Sook
Scrabble score: 8 points
Words With Friends score: 8 points
In Australia, a SOOK is a type of calf. But, when used as an Australian slang word, it refers to someone who is a crybaby, wimp or coward.
Example: “Mate, stop being such a sook and go tell her that you want to take her to dinner.”
Sling More Slang In Scrabble
Adding some Australian slang words to your vocabulary can make your Scrabble and Words With Friends games more fun and informative, even for your opponents. The same goes for all types of slang words, which is why it is a good idea to learn more of them. You can do exactly that by studying our other collections of slang terms, such as WordFinder's New York slang, British insults and Gen Z slang lists.
Zac Pricener has been a content creator for the past eight years. He’s a bit of an all-around nerd, and he has a bad habit of working movie and TV show references into conversations whenever possible.
