Greetings
How ya going?
Said as a greeting — reply 'Good, you?', never with travel plans
How are you? / Hello — the standard Australian opener.
Social
No worries
'No worries, mate' — the national catchphrase
You're welcome / it's fine / no problem. Does the work of five phrases.
Heaps
'Heaps good', 'thanks heaps'
Lots / very. Used as both quantity and intensifier.
Daily life
Arvo
AR-vo — 'see you this arvo'
Afternoon. Australians abbreviate almost everything, and this is the one you'll hear daily.
Thongs
Rhymes with 'songs' — footwear, nothing else
Flip-flops / sandals. Worth learning before someone invites you to wear them to the beach.
Opal
'Tap on with your Opal' — or just tap a contactless card
Sydney's transport card for trains, buses, ferries and light rail. You must tap on AND off.
Servo / bottle-o
SERV-oh, BOTTL-oh
Petrol station / liquor shop. Alcohol is not sold in supermarkets here — you go to the bottle-o.
Maccas / Woolies / Coles
MACK-az, WOOL-eez
McDonald's, and the two supermarket chains you'll shop at. Nobody uses the full names.
Food
Brekkie
BREK-ee — 'grab brekkie?'
Breakfast. Sydney's café brunch culture is a genuine social institution.
Flat white
The default coffee order
Espresso with steamed milk — invented in this part of the world and taken very seriously.
Work
Public holiday
'It's a long weekend'
A day off when most shops keep reduced hours and cafés add a surcharge to the bill.
Emergency
Triple zero
Dial 000 for police, fire or ambulance
The emergency number. Say which service you need; 112 also works from mobiles.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.