Hello. Have you met my mate, Sandy? Over the coming weeks he will be helping me to share some common Aussie slang with you.

Slang is very informal language that is usually spoken rather than written.

Learning the local slang is a great way to immerse yourself in a community and to use natural-sounding English.

Did you know that ‘mate’ is an informal way of saying ‘friend’? This expression is extremely popular all over Australia and is also used in countries like the U.K. and New Zealand.

In the past ‘mate’ was mainly used by men, but now it has become more gender-neutral and anyone can use it.

You can use it as a direct substitute for ‘friend’ or instead of using your friend’s name.

E.g. “I’m going shopping with a friend.” -> “I’m going shopping with a mate.”

“Julie has never been to Uluru.” -> “My mate has never been to Uluru.”

A stranger might call you ‘mate’ when they are talking to you.

E.g. “Are you alright, mate? You look a bit lost.”

I think Australians often use ‘mate’ as they want to come across as friendly. Of course, you don’t have to use it to sound friendly.

What Aussie slang do you know? Do you know how to use it naturally? Watch out for my posts every Wednesday when Sandy and I will be sharing common Aussie slang as well as how to use it.

Glossary

Aussie [informal] – Australian, or an Australian person

informal – not formal or official

immerse yourself in something – to become completely involved in something

expression – a word or group of words used in a particular situation or by particular people

gender-neutral – used by people of any gender

stranger – someone you do not know

come across – to give other people a certain feeling or opinion