We have talked about some Australian slang words related to food some time ago. This time around, we’ll continue with some Australian slang words related to animals.
1. Boomer. Meaning: A large male kangaroo.
Boomer (Image by Wikipedia)
2. Joey. Meaning: Baby kangaroo in its mother’s pouch.
Joey (Image via rantlifestyle.com)
3. Mob. Meaning: Group of kangaroo. (This is my fave thing about Australia: You could be sitting in a park then WOW).
In English, there are different ways to name a group of animals, depending on their species.
‘School’ is how a group of fish is called. “A school of fish.”
Interestingly, ‘murder’ is how a group of crow is called. “A murder of crow.”
‘Pack’ is for a group of lion or wolf. So “a pack of lion” is definitely not ‘sebungkus singa’. LOL.
4. Woofer. Meaning: dog.
5. Fruit salad. Meaning: dog/cat of mixed/unknown breeding. Interesting how Indonesians sometimes say ‘ras gado-gado’ for a cat or dog of mixed race.
6. Croc. Meaning: crocodile. Yes, like the shoes.
7. Brumby. Meaning: wild Australian horses.
8. Jumbuck. Meaning: Sheep.
9. Underground mutton. Meaning: Rabbit. Perhaps because we can also eat rabbit, just the way we eat mutton?
I was shocked when I first heard of this, but some kangaroos are allowed to be eaten in Australia. Eating kangaroos is a form of population control. Some species are protected, but some are so overpopulated they are allowed to be hunted.
(Image via aussieblokes.net)
10. Budgie. Meaning: budgerigar, parkeet.
(Image via petinfoclub.com)
11. Chook. Meaning: chicken.
12. Flutterby. Meaning: Butterfly.
13. Mozzie. Meaning: Mosquito.
14. White ants. Meaning: Termite. ‘Rayap.’
(Image via termites101.org)
15. Cockie. Meaning: Cockroach or cockatoo. I’m sure you don’t want pics of the first one.
A while back, we shared an article on some Australian rhyming slang. What’s rhyming slang? As previously mentioned in #AUSSlang: Rhyming slang, rhyming slang is a type of slang in which a word is replaced by words or phrases they rhyme with.
Let’s talk more about them in this article. Now, here are more examples of rhyming slang:
Johnny Horner. Meaning: corner.
Example:
Betty is reading her new book on the Johnny Horner.
Dodge and shirk. Meaning: work.
Example:
A: Hey, where is Amanda?
D: Amanda is off to dodge and shirk.
Frog and toad. Meaning: road.
Example:
Wilhemina, you can meet Daniel tomorrow morning because he has to hit the frog and toad now.
Mud pies. Meaning: eyes.
Example:
Alexis is beautiful because she has big mud pies.
Smash and grab. Meaning: cab.
Example:
Would you mind calling the smash and grab, Justin?