These 10 Australian Slang Words For Awesome Are Unbelievable!

Australian English is in many ways one of the most subtly bombastic of all regional English dialects.

Whether that’s a reality or simply a perception of the somewhat more muted British and American English speakers, one thing that Australians do excel at is slang words for something that is extremely good.

Today, we’re going to look at some of the best and most common Australian slang terms for awesome.

Let’s get started.

Beauty

Some slang is much easier to understand than others, and this is certainly the case with “beaut” and “beauty.”

These are among the most common Australian slang terms for describing something great, used across generations and throughout time.

“Beaut” is a simple shortening of “beautiful,” while “beauty” can also be used in a similar slang sense.

Given the human tendency to shorten words for slang, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when these terms became popular.

However, the root word “beauty” comes from medieval French and has been in the English language for centuries. In Australia, the phrase “You beauty!” is often used as an exclamation of excitement or approval.

Bonza

“Bonza” is undoubtedly one of the most quintessentially Australian slang terms for “awesome.”

It’s rarely heard outside of Australia and has that distinctive Aussie intonation, often with a sharp upward inflection at the end.

Despite how closely it is associated with Australian slang, its exact origins remain uncertain.

The most widely accepted theory is that it derives from the British term “bonanza,” which originally referred to a frenzy or a stroke of good fortune.

“Bonza” has been in use since at least the early 20th century and likely dates back even further.

Deadly

“Deadly” is a uniquely Australian slang term for something that is fantastic, excellent, or extremely impressive.

While the word might sound negative, in this context, it’s entirely positive! It is often used to describe someone who looks particularly good—“she looks deadly tonight,” for example.

The term is believed to have originated in the early 1900s, potentially from Irish slang, before being widely adopted by Aboriginal Australians sometime before the 1970s.

From there, it spread across the country and remains a common slang term today.

So, if an Aussie tells you something is “deadly,” take it as a compliment!

Dope

“Dope” is a slang term that has been widely used in American English, particularly in rap culture during the 1980s and 1990s.

Over time, it spread globally and became commonly used in Australia as well. Today, Australians use “dope” to describe something that is amazing or extremely cool—“That outfit is dope,” for example.

However, “dope” can also refer to drugs, so context is important when using the term.

Despite this, in most casual conversations, it simply means something is impressive or high-quality.

Good on ya

“Good on ya” is a widely used Australian slang phrase that conveys approval, praise, or encouragement.

It’s often said to acknowledge someone’s achievements, efforts, or good fortune. For example, if a friend lands a new job, you might say, “Good on ya!”

While it is most commonly associated with Australian slang today, it may have Celtic roots.

The Irish phrase “maith thu,” meaning “good to you,” is phonetically similar and could have influenced its usage, especially through Irish immigrants in Australia.

Ripper

“Ripper” is a classic Australian slang term used to express enthusiasm about something great or impressive.

It’s most often used to describe an experience, event, or even a person’s performance.

If you had an amazing holiday, you might say, “That was a proper ripper!”

Despite its more infamous associations (like Jack the Ripper), “ripper” has been used as a positive slang term since at least the 18th century in British English.

It made its way into Australian slang, with written records dating back to the 1970s, though oral usage is likely much older.

Ripsnorter

“Ripsnorter” is a fun and uniquely Australian way to describe something absolutely fantastic.

Like “ripper,” it’s used as a noun rather than an adjective. If you had an incredible time at an event, you might say, “That was a real ripsnorter!”

The exact origins of this word are unclear, but some claim it was first coined by Davy Crockett in rural America.

It may have entered the Australian vocabulary as far back as the 1800s, influenced by British English expressions like “rip-roaring.”

By the late 20th century, “ripsnorter” was widely used in Australia, though it was likely spoken long before that.

Sweet As

“Sweet as” might sound odd to an American English speaker, but it’s a widely used expression in both Australian and New Zealand English.

It simply means that something is as sweet or as good as it can be—without needing to specify what it’s being compared to.

Australians use this phrase naturally in everyday speech.

It’s believed to have originated as an elliptical form of phrases like “sweet as hell,” which were commonly heard in Hollywood films during the mid-20th century.

Over time, the phrase was shortened to just “sweet as.”

Sick

“Sick” is a slang term for something cool or amazing, despite its usual meaning of being unwell.

It’s widely used in Australia and other English-speaking countries, particularly among younger generations.

The term is believed to have originated in Black jazz slang in the 1920s and gained mainstream popularity in the 1990s, particularly through American pop culture.

From there, it spread worldwide, including to Australia, where it’s now a common part of everyday slang.

Australians also say “sick as,” following the same pattern as “sweet as,” meaning something is as sick (awesome) as possible.

Unreal

“Unreal” is a widely used Australian slang term for awesome. It’s used when something is so fantastic that it feels almost too good to be true. The term isn’t exclusive to Australia, but Aussies have certainly embraced it.

While “unreal” is a standard English word meaning “not real,” in Australian slang, it flips the meaning entirely to express excitement and amazement. Whether it’s a breathtaking view, a great party, or an incredible sports match, Aussies will often say, “That was unreal!”

Australians are not short on ways to address things they think are awesome, then.

One word from this list might be more appropriate than another in a given context, but they are all ways of addressing something as awesome in one way or another.

If you spend any amount of time down under, you’re bound to hear someone use at least one of these terms.