I Reckon you are confused By Australian Slang. If you just thought, What does reckon mean? you are not alone. Reckon meaning is the one of top most earched Australian slang question by migrants worldwide. Every month, thousands of newcomers to Australia Google this exact phrase, trying to decode conversations that seem like a foreign language.
What Does “Reckon” Mean in Australia?
“Reckon” in Australian slang simply means “think” or “believe.” Australians use it constantly in casual conversation. For example, “I reckon it’s going to rain” means “I think it’s going to rain.” For migrants, understanding “reckon” is essential because Australians combine it with other slang terms daily
Example
- Office: I reckon we are done = I think we are finished
- School: Do you reckon it’s hard? = Do you think it’s difficult?
- Shopping: I reckon it’s too expensive = I think it costs too much
- Work: What do you reckon? = What do you think?
Simple swap: Replace “I think” with “I reckon” – that’s it!
The 5 “Reckon” Combinations You will Hear Daily
I reckon so = Yes, I think so
What do you reckon? = What do you think?
I reckon you’re right = I think you are correct
I don’t reckon = I don’t think so
I reckon it’s worth it = I think it’s good value
Now that you have mastered “reckon” – congratulations! You have understood Australia’s most searched slang term. But understanding just “reckon” is not enough. Hence here is the detail of all Aussie slang words.
What is Aussie Slang? A Guide for New Migrants
Every country has its own special way of speaking that’s different from textbook language. Australia is no different! What is Aussie slang? It’s Australia’s unique casual words that grow naturally in communities and workplaces.
For migrants and newcomers settling in Australia, learning Aussie slang is not just about understanding conversations. It’s about connecting with your new community. When you use words like “reckon” or “arvo” (afternoon), Australians feel you’re part of their group. This helps you make friends, fit in at work, and feel at home faster.
You don’t need to memorize every slang word, but knowing the most common ones makes daily life much easier. Whether you are talking to colleagues, neighbors, or your children’s teachers, understanding Aussie slang helps you belong. Learning never stops, so here are the top Aussie slang words quick list to get you started.
Everyday Australian Slang Words for Daily Conversation
| Aussie Slang Word | What it means | Example |
| Arvo | Afternoon | See you this arvo |
| Mate | Friend/Buddy | Thanks mate! |
| Brekkie | Breakfast | Having brekkie at 8am |
| Servo | Service station/gas station | Stop at the servo for petrol |
| Bottle-o | Liquor store | Getting wine from the bottle-o |
| Ute | Pickup truck | Loading boxes in the ute |
| Mozzie | Mosquito | Too many mozzies outside |
| Sunnies | Sunglasses | Grab your sunnies, it’s bright |
| Exy | Expensive | That suburb’s pretty exy, look further out |
Australian Workplace Slang Words
| Aussie Slang Word | What it means | Example |
| Smoko | Coffee/smoke break | Going on smoko in 10 minutes |
| Knock off | Finish work | What time do you knock off? |
| She will be right | It will be okay/fine | Don’t worry, she’ll be right” |
| Fair dinkum | Genuine/honest/serious | Are you fair dinkum about that? |
| Chuck a sickie | Take a sick day (often fake) | Tom chucked a sickie yesterday |
| Hard yakka | Hard work | That was some hard yakka today |
| No worries | No problem/you’re welcome | Thanks for helping” “No worries! |
| Good on ya | Well done/good job | Good on ya for finishing early |
Top Australian Slang Phrases Every Migrant Should Know: What They Mean, When Aussies Say Them, and How to Respond Naturally
| Aussie Slang Phrase | What it means | Example |
| How ya going? | How are you? | Morning! How ya going?” |
| Too right! | Absolutely!/I agree completely | The weather’s great!” “Too right!” |
| She’ll be apples | Everything will be fine | Don’t stress, she’ll be apples |
| Have a crack at it | Try it/give it a go | “I’ll have a crack at fixing it” |
| Pull your head in | Mind your own business/behave | Just pull your head in, will |
| Fair shake of the sauce bottle | Give someone a fair chance | “Give him a fair shake of the sauce bottle” |
| Stone the flaming crows | Expression of surprise | Stone the flaming crows, look at that! |
| Bob’s your uncle | There you go/it’s done | Add water, stir, and bob’s your uncle!” |
Start Using Australian Slang Today: Your Journey to Feeling at Home in Australia
Learning Australian slang isn’t just about understanding words,it’s about belonging to your new community. When you use these everyday phrases, Australians immediately recognise you’re making an effort to fit in. This opens doors to friendships, better workplace relationships, and feeling truly at home in Australia.
Start small: Pick 3-5 words from each table that you will use this week. Practice “arvo,” “brekkie,” and “no dramas” in your daily conversations. Once these feel natural, add more Australian slang to your vocabulary.
Remember: Australians appreciate when migrants try to use local language. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, even getting it slightly wrong often makes Aussies smile and want to help you learn more.
Your Australian journey starts with small steps. Using Aussie slang is one of the fastest ways to connect with locals and feel like you truly belong in your new home. Give it a crack – you’ll be surprised how quickly you start sounding like a true blue Aussie!
Ready for more Australian life tips? Explore our other guides on banking, budgeting, and settling into life Down Under.
