from yuwaalaraay and related languages of northern nsw The bird referred to is the grey‑backed, pink‑breasted cockatoo Eolophus roseicapillus, occurring in all parts of Australia except the extreme north-east and south-west.
first recorded in the 1850s
galah session
a period allocated for private conversation
Especially between women on isolated stations, on an outback radio network.
galoot
an awkward, silly fellow, a great clumsy oaf
Originally used by sailors to refer to soldiers.
since 1812
galvo
galvanised iron
In the form of corrugated sheets, a quintessential building material in Oz.
aussie diminutive
game as Ned Kelly
plucky, resolute
One who is imbued with the fighting spirit of Australia's national hero.
To be game as Ned Kelly is to be outstandingly courageous.
gammon
This word has survived over the years as a part of First Nation language, from where it has now been re-adopted into Aussie English, epecially in areas close to First Nation communities, such as northern Australia.
first nation languages
1 to lie or tell fibs
2 to pretend, tease, or kid
3 a fake, something no good, nonsense since 1812
gander
to look at something
Have a gander at these galahs!
garbo
1 garbage collector ∼ garbologist
The garbos come every Tuesday. 2 garbage bin
Chuck it in the garbo.
gargle
an alcoholic drink
Care for a gargle?
since the 1930s
garn!
go on !
A typical aussie contraction similar to carn! Garn, there's a stack of room!
Don't gawk at me like that.
To look or perv at, not in a sexual way
gay
1 homosexual
Originally used by gays themselves, the word spread to the straight community and became a homophobic term of abuse, until reclaimed in the 1970s by the gay community.
standard english2 uncool, daggy, socially unacceptable
Note that there is no sense of homosexuality involved. That band is so gay. What a gay haircut.
adolescent slang since the early 1990s
gay and hearty
a party rhyming slang: gay and hearty for party
gazunder
1 a chamber pot
Because it goes under the bed. 2 in cricket, a delivery that is low to the ground
The ubiquitous friendly Aussie greeting.
Formerly used as an unabbreviated parting comment when the person leaving was annoyed. Still used today, but only in a joking way: Good day to you sir!
There are a number of similar words for this same item from all over the country, such as gonnie, all of which come from First Nations' languages.
from dharug spoken in the sydney region2 a geological term
Gibbers are found covering the surface of parts of the arid inland. They are a pebble or stone of chalcedony, or other hard silica, covered with desert varnish (a dark coating composed of fine-grained minerals).
A region covered with gibbers is called a gibber plain, gibber desert, or gibber country. The local rag in Woomera is called The Gibber Gabber.
gidgee
a hand-held spear
Fired from a thick band of elastic, used in spearfishing.
from nyungar spoken in south-western w.a.
gig
1 a police informer
Short for fizgig. Hence, a stickybeak or busybody.
from the 1950s2 to kid or tease
Are you gigging me?
since the 1890s3 a fool
Don't make a gig of yourself. 4 a look
Have a gig at this!
from the 1920s
gilgai
a natural formation of mounds and depressions
Occuring in inland Australia, often forming a reservoir after heavy rain.
from wiradjuri and kamilaroi
gilgie
a native freshwater crayfish
Pronounced with an initial soft g.
Also spelt jilgie, and colloqualised as joogie.
See yabby for more information.
From the Aboriginal nation of Nyungar, or Nooongar, a constellation of peoples who live from Geraldton to Esperance in the south-west of WA.
from nyungar spoken in south-western w.a.
ging
a catapult or slingshot
Pronounced with an initial hard g.
Possibly imitative of the sound made when fired.
from the 1930s
ginger
1 to steal from a client of a prostitute or their accomplice
2 the backside or bum
I gave him a swift kick up the ginger.
If someone is on your ginger, then they are chasing you.
rhyming slang: ginger ale for tail
gissa
please give me
Gissa lookcha tits...
ocker slang
give it away
to give up on something
I used to smoke, but I've given it away now.
since the 1940s
give lip
be cheeky
give the game away
1 to abandon whatever it is you are doing
I can't fix this, I'm giving the game away. 2 to retire from an occupation
I used to be a lawyer but I gave the game away in 2000.
Especially a gutsy effort I'll give anything a go.
Hence the great Aussie barracking cry: Have a go ya mug! 2 a fight
Commonly found in a challenge to fisticuffs. Do you want a go, mate?
Hence, as a verb, to attack: I was itching to go him. 3 an opportunity
Here's a go! 4 to say
Common in the speech of schoolkids and ethnic Aussies. So I go to him, Shut up! 5 to eat or drink with pleasure
I could really go a beer right now. 6 a goanna
An example of the Aussie penchant for abbreviation: You should have seen the size of that go-go!
goalsneak
a player who catches the opposition unawares and scores a goal
Usually describes a forward player, particularly in a forward pocket, who is small and nimble and who uses pace and cunning to snatch a goal after a running play.
aussie rules slang
goanna
1 the native monitor lizard
A corruption of the Spanish word iguana. It has a long head and neck, and a forked tongue.
The largest goanna in Australia is the Perentie, averaging 1.5 metres in length, making it the second largest lizard in the world.
first recorded in the 1830s
2 a piano rhyming slang: pianner for goanna
gob
the mouth
gobful
telling someone the unpleasant truth
She didn't want to hear, but I gave her a gobful anyway.
gobsmacked
surprised, astounded
goer
energetic person, workable proposition
godzone
australia
Aussie contraction of God's Own Country.
go for the doctor
1 to go as fast as possible
2 to bet all your money on a race
3 the moment when a jockey gets the whip out
With two furlongs remaining, Jim Cassidy goes for the doctor.
horseracing slang
golly
saliva and mucus collected in the mouth and spat out
gone
1 pregnant
She's five months gone already. 2 ruined or undone
If he catches us we're gone.
since the 1940s
gone a million
completely and utterly undone, defeated since the 1910s
gone to Gowings
departed in great haste, destitute, drunk, hung-over, insane
Originally an advertising campaign for Gowing Brothers, a Sydney department store.
It consisted of witty cartoons of someone making a hasty departure with the explanation that they had gone to Gowings.
The store closed in 2006 after 138 years in business – so now Gowings is finally gone.
nsw slang from the 1940s
gonk
a catapult or slingshot northern nsw slang
gone to the dogs
changing from good to bad, to deteriorate
Metaphorically refering to an old horse sent to the knackers to become dog meat.
gonnie
a small stone suitable for throwing
There are a number of similar words from all over the country for this same item, all of which come from Aboriginal languages. In Vic they have the brinnie, Qld has the gonnie, SA has the ronnie, all along the east coast there is the connie, whilst in WA they have the coondie and the boondie, which also means a large rock or a sand bomb used by kids. Australia-wide there is the goolie, and the gibber, the only one for which a definite origin is known.
saliva and mucus collected in the mouth and spat out
good oh∼ good oh
very good, all right, okay
Everything was good oh.
good on ya
good for you, well done, bravo
Often shortened to onya, or in the plural, onyas.
good sort
an attractive female
Nowadays the term has been adopted by sheilas to refer to blokes.
since the 1940s
good trot
a run of good luck since the 1940s
good wicket
an advantageous position
Two grand a week! He's on a good wicket.
go off
1 to be thrilling ❨at a party or similar event ❩
The dance floor was really going off. 2 excellent waves ❨in the surf ❩
Grab your board, Burleigh is going off. 3 to be raided by the police ❨of an illegal establishment ❩
Hence, to be arrested.
underworld slang from the 1940s 4 to make a proper run ❨of a racehorse ❩
After being previously held back to give an impression of poor form in order to obtain better odds.
racing slang
goog
an egg
Originally from Scotland, also called a googy or googy-egg.
Pronounced with a short vowel, as in good.
goom
methylated spirits drunk by alcoholics
Hence a goomie is a person addicted to methylated spirits.
See metho for more.
first recorded in the 1960s, perhaps from an aboriginal language
goon
a flagon of wine
Inexpensive wine, often plonk, now usually sold in a cardboard cask.
From flagoon, a jocular pronunciation of flagon.
See red ned for more information.
Played in a backyard, a goon bag is attached to a rotary clothesline which is spun around the participants until it stops.
The closest participant is obliged to consume some of the contents before spinning again.
The winner is the last player able to stand.
Gortons flu
a hangover
From John Grey Gorton, a noted drunk.
He was Prime Minister of Australia from 1968 until 1971.
It used to be the iconic aussie swearword but was always taboo and never used in polite society.Bloody this, bloody that…
It is also inserted into the middle of other words. Abso-bloody-lutely Nowadays it has lost its former glory to the f-word, which took over the title in the '60 s.
since the 1890s
Great Barrier Reef
the world's largest structure created by living creatures
Greens
A left-wing political party which appeals to middle class intellectuals, especially those interested in social reform. The Greens hold considerable influence in parliament following a swing in June 2022. In alliance with the ALP and opposed to the NLP, a right-wing political party.
green & gold
the australian international sporting colours
acacia pycnantha
From golden wattle, the national floral emblem. She was proud to wear the green and gold.
proclaimed by the governor-general on 19 april 1984
green giant
a one hundred dollar note
greenie
an enviromentalist
The association of green with enviromentalism first appeared in England in the early 1970s in the name Greenpeace.
The addition of ie to form a noun was an Aussie contribution.
Who travels extensively within Australia, especially by campervan, caravan, or the like.
grizzle
to complain
grog
alcohol
Originally British naval slang referring to watered down rum. I'm going to have a few grogs with my old mates.
In 1740 Admiral Vernon (nicknamed Old Grog, from grognam, the material his cloak was made from) ordered water to be issued with sailors rum.
When made illicitly it is known as sly grog
To be on the grog is to be on a drinking spree.
To grog on is to take part in a piss-up.
A heavy drinker is known as a grog artist.
since the 1830s
grommet
a young, inexperienced surfer
Also shortened to grom or grommie. Also called a gremmie, from gremlin, and now used by snowboarders for novices.
surfie slang since the 1980s
grot
dirty or untidy person
grouse
great, terrific, very good
We had a grouse time, but now it's back to work.
since the 1920s
grouter ∼ to come in on the grouter
to arrive after the work is finished
Because laying the grout is the last job to get done when tiling.
Hence, to be lucky, to have things fall your way.Notice how the bludger always manages to come in on the grouter. Used in a disparaging way by those who haven't had the luck.
There is an annual gumi race down the Murrumbidgee River.
Interestingly, the word gumi is pidgin English for rubber.
gummies
gumboots, wellington boots
gumtree
an australian eucalypt
So named from its gummy sap. Used in various slang expressions: Up a gumtree
Meaning in all sorts of strife Mad as a gumtree full of galahs.
Meaning stark raving bonkers.
first used by captain james cook in 1770
guernsey ∼ get a guernsey
win selection, recognition, approbation
Originally, to be selected for a football team.
gun
1 a champion shearer
Hence, a champion at anything 2 a large surfboard for riding big waves
The term originated amongst swimmers as descriptive of a dive in which the diver instead of striking the water with hands, head or feet first strikes with his stomach.
The bird referred to is the grey‑backed, pink‑breasted cockatoo Eolophus roseicapillus, occurring in all parts of Australia except the extreme north-east and south-west.
Especially between women on isolated stations, on an outback radio network.
In the form of corrugated sheets, a quintessential building material in Oz.
One who is imbued with the fighting spirit of Australia's national hero. 
Also spelt jilgie, and colloqualised as joogie. 
What you will receive around the country.
aussie rules slang
It has a long head and neck, and a forked tongue.
Played in a backyard, a goon bag is attached to a rotary clothesline which is spun around the participants until it stops.
A left-wing political party which appeals to middle class intellectuals, especially those interested in social reform. The Greens hold considerable influence in parliament following a swing in June 2022. In alliance with the ALP and opposed to the NLP, a right-wing political party.
Traditionally made of boughs and bark.
it's the