- Aussie slang dictionaryEveryday words with meanings, examples and audio
- Slang quizTen questions. How Aussie are you?
- Workplace EnglishSmall talk, meetings, phone calls and emails, the Aussie way
- Job interview EnglishPhrases for Australian interviews, and how to sound confident
Why Aussie English is different
Australians shorten words and add -ie or -o (brekkie, arvo, servo). They use a lot of friendly understatement (not bad often means very good), and they're relaxed about first names, even with managers. None of this appears in PTE, but all of it appears in real life.
Tips for newcomers
- Understand first, use later. You don't need to speak in slang. Recognising it is what matters.
- Copy your workmates. If your team says "no worries" and "too easy", you can too.
- Keep it out of formal writing. No slang in PTE essays, job applications or emails to clients.
- If you don't understand, ask. "Sorry, what does that mean?" is completely normal, and Aussies are usually happy to explain.