Aside from warm weather, mateship and public holidays, there are few things Aussies love more than slang and colloquialisms. In fact, we’re famous for it!
But it can make it hard to understand what people are saying — especially when you’re new to Australia! To help you find your feet, check out this guide to some of the terms you might hear when you’re in Melbourne.
Hang on, what are slang and colloquialisms?
The terms ‘slang’ and ‘colloquialism’ refer to informal language. It’s often unofficial, so you won’t find many of these terms in a dictionary.
Australians in general use lots of slang and colloquialisms, but they can also be more local. For example, some phrases might only be heard in certain areas, like Melbourne or Sydney, while other terms might be heard in certain places, like AFL games.
Slang and colloquialisms you might hear in Melbourne
Melbs
Means: As you might have guessed, this is short for Melbourne.
Example: “I’m flying back to Melbs today!”
The G
Means: The Melbourne Cricket Ground, also called the MCG.
Example: “Are you coming to see Collingwood play at the G tonight?
Parma
Means: Short for chicken parmigiana, a classic Aussie pub meal of breaded chicken covered in tomato sauce and cheese. Other parts of Australia might call it a ‘parmi’ instead.
Example: “Let’s go get a parma for lunch.”
Footy
Means: In Melbourne, footy usually refers to Australian Football League (AFL), which has a whole lot of slang of its own!
Example: “Did you catch the footy last night?”
Bathers
Means: Swimwear. In other parts of Australia, they might call them bathers or togs.
Example: “You’ve gotta bring your bathers to St Kilda!”
Pot, pint or schooner
Means: These are the sizes of beer you can order from a pub, but they mean different things in different states and territories. In Melbourne, a pot is 285ml, a schooner is 425ml and a pint is 570ml.
Example: “I don’t have time for a pint or a schooner, so I’ll just get a pot.”
Chaddy
Means: Chadstone shopping centre, the largest shopping centre in Australia.
Example: “Keen for a shopping trip to Chaddy?”
Jeff’s Shed
Means: The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in South Wharf. The name comes from former Premier Jeff Kennett, who played a role in establishing it.
Example: “Jump on a tram and meet me at Jeff’s Shed.”
Full as a Bourke Street tram
Means: Packed! If you’ve ever been on a tram at Bourke Street, you’ll understand!
Example: “We can’t go to that bar, it’s as full as a Bourke Street tram!”
Myki
Means: myki is the name of Melbourne’s public transport pass, an essential for anyone wanting to get around in this great city!
Example: “Have you got your myki card?”
ISTP
Means: Short for International Student Travel Pass, a pass for eligible undergraduate international students, that can save you up to 50% on your transport costs!
Example: “Make sure you apply for an ISTP as soon as you can!”
Carn
Means: ‘come on’. Used for encouragement, usually for a sports team.
Example: “Carn the pies!”
Potato cake
Means: A battered and deep-fried slice of potato, often bought at a local takeaway. Other parts of Australia might call this a potato scallop.
Example: “There’s nothing better than a potato cake on a cold day.”
Full as a goog
Means: ‘Goog’ is Melbourne slang for egg. This phrase can be used to describe anything full, but it is usually used by people who may have eaten too much!
Example: “I won’t need dinner tonight, I’m full as a goog!”
Galah
Means: A silly person.
Example: “That guy didn’t look before he got off the tram. What a galah!”
Op shop
Means: A thrift or second-hand store. These are great places to find clothes, shoes, homewares, furniture and more for a great deal!
Example: “I need more jeans, mind if we swing by the op shop?”
Yeah nah
Means: No.
Example: “Yeah nah, I don’t think I can make it to the party.”
Nah yeah
Means: Yes.
Example: “Nah yeah, I reckon I’ll come!”
Heading to the G, hitting up Chaddy or touring some op shops? Visit Transport Victoria today to find out how they can get you there for less.
