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If you dream of studying in Australia, be prepared to learn some slang. Aussies are known for their use of informal language. Many consider it part of their national identity.
As this article by two Monash University linguists points out, Australia’s attachment to slang actually goes all the way back to some of the earliest English settlements in the country.
So, what slang words should you know before traveling “down under”? Here are 12 popular Australian slang words to get started:
“Arvo” means afternoon. According to the Australian National Dictionary Centre, the word was first recorded in 1920. In Australian English, an “-o” is commonly added to shortened words. Two examples are “ambo” (ambulance driver) or “rello” (relative) – but there are many more.
How to use it: I’m meeting my sister in the park on Sunday arvo.
“Barbie” is a short form of barbeque. In Australian English, “-ie” is also added to lots of abbreviated words. The word “selfie” is a good example of this; it was coined by an Australian man in 2002!
How to use it: We’re having a barbie tomorrow – do you want to come?
“Chucking a sickie” means to take a sick day from work when you are not sick – or without a proper reason. Look, there’s that “–ie” again.
According to a 2018 study, nearly half of Australians who take off sick are actually chucking a sickie.
How to use it: I’m going to chuck a sickie on Monday to spend an extra day with my family.
“To give someone a bell” simply means to call someone on the phone. It’s a term used both in Australia and the U.K.
How to use it: I’ll give you a bell tomorrow when I’m out of class.
“Hard yakka” means work hard. The word “yakka” – which first appeared in the 1840s – derives from the word for work (yaga). It comes from Yagara, an Indigenous language in Australia.
In fact, many Australian English words derive from Indigenous languages. Take a look at some more examples on ABC Learn English.
How to use it: Studying for my final English exam was hard yakka, but worth it.
“Macca’s” is a nickname for Mcdonald’s. If you used the term Macca’s in the U.S. or Canada, you’d get some funny looks. But the term is very common in Australia. In fact, McDonald’s changed its name to Macca’s at stores across the country for Australia Day in 2013 – and still refers to itself as Macca’s today.
How to use it: I’m craving a cheeseburger. Where’s the closest Macca’s?
“Mate” is a popular word for friend. And while it’s used in other English-speaking countries around the world, it has a special connection to Australia. In the past, mate has been used to address men, but it can be gender-neutral.
In Australia, you’ll also hear mate used in an ironic sense. If someone is upset with an athlete’s play, for example, they might yell at the T.V.: “maattee!”
How to use it: G’day mate, how are you doing?
“No worries” is a common way to say that something is no bother – or even to say you’re welcome. It’s often used to assure people that everyone will be alright, and not to worry.
How to use it: “Thanks for taking that shift at work for me!” – No worries, I don’t mind at all.
“She’ll be right” is an optimistic way to say that everything will turn out okay in the end.
Now, why is the pronoun she used? “Australian English often uses the feminine pronoun she where standard English would use it. For example, instead of ‘it’ll be right’ Australians say ‘she’ll be right’,” explains the Australian National Dictionary Centre.
How to use it: I’m worried about applying to a university abroad. But I know if I work hard, she’ll be right.
A “uey” is a U-turn. When you say it, it sounds like “You E”. Instead of saying make a uey, you’re more likely to hear an Australian say chuck a uey.
How to use it: We’re going in the wrong direction! Chuck a uey up ahead to turn around.
“Uni” is an abbreviation for – you guessed it – university. The word uni is used in both Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K.; and while it’s not very common in Canada or the U.S., most people would still understand you if you said it. There are 43 unis in Australia – you can take a look at them here.
How to use it: My best mate from uni just had a baby. She looks just like him!
A “veggo” is a vegetarian. About 3% of the population in Australia say they’re vegetarian, while just 1% are vegan. But if you’re a veggo, you won’t have any issues shopping. There are lots of meat and dairy-free options available in supermarkets and restaurants.
How to use it: My brother is a veggo. He cooked some amazing veggie burgers on the barbie last weekend.
To explore more great words, check out the Aussie Slang Dictionary on the Australia Day website, then take the Aussie Slang Quiz to test your knowledge.
What’s your favorite Aussie slang word? Don’t forget to explore all the Australian content on our blog – learn about how to study in Australia, how to find work, Australian post-study visas, and more.
PTE Academic is completed on a computer, including the speaking part of the test.
So make sure you are prepared by familiarizing yourself with the equipment you will use during your test. Reading these test tips and you will be fully prepared.
There are many ways you can improve your chances of gaining points in Part 2: Reading during PTE Academic.
To improve your reading skills, practice increasing your reading speed and comprehension at the same time. In turn, you will improve your writing, grammar and vocabulary skills.
To do well in this part of the test, you need to be able to read quickly, using effective reading strategies, as there is a limited time to answer all questions.
Speed reading tasks will help improve your reading speed. Practice speed reading every day and:
Aim to be reading at least 220 words per minute
Reading short articles of around 300 words
Read often for short periods of time
You can also try this as a challenge with your friends to help keep motivated. Once you are happy with your comprehension and speed, focus on chunks (groups of words) rather than individual words.
When your reading skills reach a level you are happy with, you will feel more confident to answer the questions.
In the Multiple-Choice, Single Answer question type, some test takers make the mistake of scan reading and matching the words in the text to the words in the answer. Generally, the words in the text are not used in the correct answer, therefore it is important to learn how to use synonyms and paraphrasing as it will be used in the test.
Learn how to improve your grammar in our Reading: Core Skills part 1 article.
In this question type, you will need more time than in the Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer question type, as you need to intensively read the stem (the part before the options) as well as the options, then scan read the text on the screen until you find the part of the text that contains information that was in the stem.
Read the options very carefully and match the meaning of the option with the text. Do not match the words – this is something test takers may make errors with.
You should also make sure not to choose all the options since you lose one point for each incorrect choice. However, you cannot score below zero.
To do well in the Re-order Paragraphs questions, you will need to have a strong understanding of cohesive devices and how they work. You will also need to understand how articles work, as well as the logical and chronological order of information.
In this question type, skim-read the text to get the ideas of the topic of the text. From there, you should read all the sentences carefully.
For both Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks question types, you will need to understand a range of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, pronouns, and cohesive devices, as well as being able to identify when plural nouns are needed.
You will also need to be able to skim read to get an idea of the meaning of the text, then read intensively before and after each blank. If unsure, you should guess based on the context.
Make sure you do not leave any spaces blank. You do not need to correctly fill in all spaces to get points.
To go back and review the question types within the reading test, we suggest learning more about the reading questions.
Explore Smart Prep, which combines all our practice materials in one place, so it's easier for you to stay on track with your PTE preparation.
Smart Prep is a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test
It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account
Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.
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Do you have your heart set on studying in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland? The UK is a wonderful place to live and learn, but you’ll most likely need to get a UK study visa before you start packing your bags.
This comprehensive guide covers who needs a UK student visa, the requirements for getting one, how to apply, how much it costs, and how long it takes.
If you’re an international student hoping to study in the UK, you’ll most likely need a student visa. The only exceptions are nationals of Switzerland and countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), who don’t need a visa to enter the UK. *
* Please note: The outcome of Brexit may alter this after 2020. Check the UK government’s website for up-to-date information about this.
There are several UK study visa requirements you’ll need to meet to successfully apply. These include:
You’ve been offered a place in a full-time course from an eligible university (i.e. the school must be a licensed Student route visa*Tier 4 sponsors)
You can understand English (both written and spoken)
You have enough funds to support yourself and any dependants, while also paying for the course.
These requirements apply to students from all over the world. This means the UK student visa requirements for Indian students and American students are exactly the same for Chinese students and Australian students (and so on).
