| a bit rough (adj) | something sub-standard "Your work is a bit rough." |
| A4 (n) | standard business-size letter (8.25" x 11.75") |
| abattoir (n) | slaughterhouse |
| ABN (n) | Australian Business Number A tax number that qualifies you as a business. |
| a bit on the piss (adj) | tilted camera angle in the movies same as "Dutch angle" in U.S. |
| Abo (n) | derogatory term for Aboriginal |
| Aborigine (n) | indigenous Australians Latin: "from the beginning" |
| abseil (v) | to rappel (rock climbing) |
| ace (adj) | great "That's ace!" Used in Melbourne. |
| ACT (n) | Australian Capital Territory Australian equivalent of the District of Columbia |
| ADF (n) | Australian Defence Forces Army, Navy, Air Force, SAS |
| adjustable spanner (n) | crescent wrench, monkey wrench |
| aerial ping pong (n) | Australian Rules Football (Footy) |
| aggro (adj) | Aggravated, aggressive "He's acting kind of aggro." |
| agistment (v) (adj) | horse boarding |
| air bottles (n) | Scuba tanks also "air cylinder" |
| airy fairy (adj) | wishful thinking, unrealistic |
| all the fruit (adj) | all the accessories or goodies "I ordered the new Ford with all the fruit." |
| all the go (adj) | the latest thing, very popular "The new Holden is all the go." |
| ally (n) | aluminum |
| aluminium (n) (note second letter "i" in the last syllable) |
British/Australian pronunciation and spelling of aluminum (see text section on pronunciation differences) |
| always in the shit (adj) | always in trouble |
| amber fluid (n) | beer |
| ambo (n) | ambulance driver |
| anticlockwise (adj) | counterclockwise |
| anti-social behavior (adj) | Hooliganism, disruptive actions (also known as "hooning") anything from hot-rodding to being drunk in public, painting graffiti, harassing oldies, etc. |
| ant's pants (adj) | real good, the best |
| Any joy there? | Had any success? |
| Apple Mac (n) | name for any Apple or Macintosh computer |
| apples, she'll be (adj) | alright, it'll be OK also apps |
| arc up (v) | to get mad "Look out, or I'm going to arc up." |
| agry-bargy (adj) | argument |
| arse (n) (pronounced ass) |
ass |
| arsey (adj) | lucky |
| arvo (n) (pronounced avo) |
afternoon |
| as cross as a frog in a sock (adj) | angry |
| as full as a goog (adj) | drunk From English slang for egg: googy. |
| a sparrow's fart (n) | dawn "I'll wake you at a sparrow's fart." |
| at the end of the day | when all is said and done |
| at the mo (adj) | at the moment |
| ATO (n) | Australian Tax Office equivalent to the IRS |
| AUD, AUD$, A$ (n) | Australian dollar |
| Aunty (n) | The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Australia's government-owned public broadcasting networks |
| AUSFTA (n) | Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement |
| Aussie (n) | Australian |
| Aussie salute (v) (n) | waving flies from in front of your face |
| Autogas (n) | LPG, liquid propane gas Used as a fuel in cars. |
| auto trimmer (n) | auto upholsterer |
| autumn (n) | fall (The word "fall" is not used.) Leaves don't seasonally fall off eucalyptus trees. |
| average (adj) | mediocre "The meal was pretty average." |
| avos (n) | avocados |
| awning over the toy shop (adj) | a man's beer belly |
| award rates (n) | minimum standard pay and conditions (pay scale) |