The Rosie and Roula Show

104: Budgie Smugglers & True Blue Laughs: Aussie Slang 101

• Roula Abou Haidar and Rosie Burrows

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When is a sandwich a sanga? Why are Speedos called budgie smugglers? And what in the world is whoop whoop? 

This week, Rosie quizzes Roula on the wild, wonderful, and often ridiculous world of Australian slang. It’s a playful episode full of misfires, laughter, and the kind of bonding that only happens when someone says "fair dinkum" and means it. 

From cultural confusion to surprise translations (no, whoop whoop is not a vagina), this episode is both a love letter to language and a reminder that speaking the same language doesn't always mean you understand each other. 

This episode explores: 

  • The unspoken rules of Aussie slang 
  • Why shortening words is an Australian sport 
  • How language can include—or hilariously exclude 
  • What it means to feel like a stranger in your own tongue 

If you've ever felt left out of an inside joke, or laughed your way through cultural mix-ups, this one’s for you. 

 

Takeaways 

  • Australian slang is rich and varied, often requiring context to understand. 
  • Terms like 'budgie smugglers' refer to tight swimming shorts, showcasing the playful nature of the language. 
  • 'No worries' is a common Australian phrase that conveys a sense of ease and friendliness. 
  • Understanding slang can enhance cross-cultural communication and friendship. 
  • The playful guessing game around slang terms fosters engagement and learning. 
  • Slang often reflects cultural values and social norms, making it a fascinating topic. 
  • Words like 'drongo' and 'bottle-o' highlight the uniqueness of Australian English. 
  • The conversation emphasizes the joy of language learning through humor and personal stories. 
  • Rosie and Roula's friendship illustrates how language can bridge cultural gaps. 
  • Exploring slang can be a fun way to connect with others and learn about their culture. 

  

 Keywords 

Australian slang, language, culture, humor, friendship, communication 

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Roula (00:00)
of funny things that I put in the Rosie app. Rosie and Roula app.

Rosie (00:06)
the WhatsApp group, yeah. I have a very funny episode idea, so whenever it's my turn, ⁓ I shouldn't have said it's very funny, because now it's not gonna be, is it?

Roula (00:13)
shh, let's do this. Let's do this.

Rosie (00:30)
Ooh, how do I start it? I'm feeling nerves. I've just set the bar really high. No, I'm not going to try and be too clever about it. Ruler.

I want to talk about Australian slang.

You probably know some of it because we've been talking to each other for what, two years? Something like that?

So I wanna come, I wanna say some Aussie slang and I want you to guess what it means.

So, okay, yeah. So the first thing I'm gonna do is just say it with no context. And if you don't get it, I can give it to you in a sentence. How does that sound? Let's do that, okay.

Roula (01:19)
Yeah, let's do this.

It's fun.

Rosie (01:23)
Thank you.

Roula (01:27)
Repeat?

Rosie (01:28)
fair dinkum.

Hang I'll, I'll, no, I'll say it how, how people might say it with expression. Fair dinkum.

Roula (01:32)
Dammit.

What the fuck?

Rosie (01:42)
NAH HA!

just like saying, true, wow, fair dinkum.

Roula (01:47)
Correct?

Yeah. Yeah. And the words say nothing to me. I don't even know if these are letters you're pronouncing or just sounds.

Rosie (01:53)
That's what, yeah. So if you.

Otz.

Fair, the word fair, that's the first part. Dinkum, I think, is totally made up. No idea where that came from. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Okay. Maybe I should give you a test at the end to see if you remember them. Okay. actually, you're writing them down. Ooh. Okay. Okay. Okay. ⁓ should I give you an easy one? I'll try. No. Okay. Well, I, okay. Bicky.

Roula (02:09)
⁓

Okay.

I'm writing them down. Yeah.

No, just give me whatever on your mind. They're all

not easy for me. They're easy in your perspective. ⁓

Rosie (02:34)
We'll see. You're pretty clever. You speak

multiple languages. I think you'll be good at this. Bicky.

Roula (02:43)
Annoying?

Rosie (02:47)
Roula do you want a Biccy with your cup of tea?

Roula (02:53)
Biscuit. Bicky? Bicky? How do I write it?

Rosie (02:54)
Yeah. Biscuit. Biscuit. Yeah. Good. See? Okay. Yeah. Vicky. We like shortening things and... ⁓

that's a good question. Yeah. I'd probably spell it B-I-K-K-I-E. But if, I don't know. Who cares? I don't know how you spell it really.

Roula (03:03)
Bicky from Biscuit. B-I-C-E. Okay.

⁓ okay. I love

this. Yeah, yeah, I love that. I love that. Go ahead.

Rosie (03:15)
Mmm,

okay. I think I've told you this one before and I am quite confident that you would have forgotten, but let's see. Budgie smugglers.

Roula (03:26)
You've said that! my god, it's so cute! It sounds so cute! Budgie Smugglers! Is it a toy? Is it...

Rosie (03:38)
really not well well maybe in a certain context it could be a toy

Roula (03:39)
But she's smugglers.

She's smugglers. It sounds so cute. I have no memory of what it means, but I know I heard it.

Rosie (03:51)
Okay, okay,

so your husband and you and family are going to the beach and he's decided to wear budgie smugglers.

Roula (03:58)
⁓

yeah, the tight swimming shorts where you can see all the speedos!

Rosie (04:03)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Speedos, you see all the bits. Yes.

Do you call them Speedos? You know, the brand Speedos? No?

Roula (04:12)
I

think majority call them Speedos but no one wears them so I think the entire world has forgotten.

Rosie (04:20)
Okay, well, yes. So I wouldn't call them cute. Would you call, would you call it? You wish they do. Of course you would. Do you think they're cute? Now you remember what budgie smugglers are. Cute or sexy?

Roula (04:23)
I wish they do.

Yeah, yeah.

It can be both. It depends. It depends. Yeah.

Rosie (04:39)
Okay, all right. Okay,

all right. No worries.

Roula (04:50)
No worries!

Rosie (04:51)
Yeah, no worries.

Roula (04:53)
I understand these two words. When in Australian slang, what does it mean? No worries.

Rosie (04:54)
What does it mean?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Roula (05:03)
I don't care.

Rosie (05:03)
They might use it.

You don't care. If you said something like, Rosie, thank you so much for your help on editing the podcast. I'd say, yeah, no worries.

Roula (05:15)
No problem.

Rosie (05:16)
Yeah, no problem. No skin off my back. Yeah. Like my pleasure. No worries. is that one you haven't heard either? Ooh. ⁓

Roula (05:20)
No skin off my back! I'm writing this down! No! I'm writing

it down! So it's like you're welcome!

Rosie (05:32)
I But it's, yeah, I guess it's like you're welcome, but it's a bit more than that. It's like it was nothing. Yeah, not a problem. Easy peasy.

Roula (05:36)
not a problem yeah nothing

no skin off my back it expressed it so well i love it yeah

Rosie (05:44)
Yeah. Cause do you instantly know what that means? Cause I, yeah.

Yeah. Okay. what a drongo.

Roula (05:59)
That's about a person who's a jerk.

Rosie (06:04)
Yes! Well done! Absolute- they're an idiot, a jerk, an arsehole, what a drongo. You're stupid.

Roula (06:18)
I love them.

Rosie (06:20)
Bottle-o.

Roula (06:22)
Repeat,

Rosie (06:24)
Bottle O.

Yeah, bottle-o.

Roula (06:35)
A-nol?

Rosie (06:42)
to me, Nainal. my god. No. Okay. it's a special occasion. And you say, Rosie, could you just run down to the bottle-o to, to grab some champagne?

Roula (06:57)
it's not the attic, but the grenier, thing under the house. The basement? Kitchen? Fridge!

Rosie (07:05)
No, the basement, No.

No!

really don't know what the proper word for this is. no, I think I do. So it's a type of shop.

Roula (07:25)
⁓ liquor shop?

Rosie (07:26)
What shop is it?

Yeah! Is that what you call it? Yeah. The liquor shop, bottle shop, where you buy alcohol. Bottle it.

Roula (07:30)
and liquor shop.

⁓ okay, okay. ⁓ I'm getting ready to come and visit you. I think I dreamt that you came in, you're coming to the UK and I'm like, now I'm buying a ticket to go and visit Rosie. And then my friend who's who's English said to me, but Roula it costs like three, four thousand euros to buy a ticket to go to the UK.

Rosie (07:40)
You

Yeah.

And then what did you do? It was... But did you still come or did you go, no.

Roula (07:57)
It was a dream. It was a dream.

I don't remember, but now I'm telling you about my dream, I'm feeling the disappointment that I felt in my dream. This desire to meet is just terrible. Yeah, I'm dreaming about it.

Rosie (08:09)
Yes!

One day we will meet. We will meet in person.

You

are, God! Okay, okay, okay, okay. Here's another one. I probably shouldn't do too many, but it's so much fun. Sanga.

Roula (08:29)
Ooh.

Senga. Senga.

Rosie (08:37)
I like how

you say it. Yeah, sanga.

Roula (08:39)
Give me hint. Is it describing a person or is it something? It's a thing.

Rosie (08:42)
So if you, no, it's something. Yeah, it's a thing.

If you were packing lunch for Liam, you might give him a sangha or make him a sangha. Not quite. More specific.

Roula (08:52)
So.

Snack?

Wow.

Sandwich?

Rosie (09:03)
Yeah! Yeah!

Good one, Sanga.

Roula (09:08)
Senga.

Does it have an R at the end or just A? ⁓

Rosie (09:12)
A, S-A-N-G-A,

yeah. Although, I don't think you'd find any of these in a dictionary, so.

Roula (09:16)
⁓ no.

That's why I'm asking you how to spell it.

Rosie (09:21)
YEAH! ⁓

Okay. Last one, last one. you want two more, two more, two more. Okay. Middle of whoop whoop.

Roula (09:27)
I want two more. No, no, two more if you have. I want two more.

vagina, vulva.

Rosie (09:43)
No, no. I mean, it could be in the middle of what what for some people. Yeah. Yeah. Good one. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Your first guess was vagina though.

Roula (09:46)
middle of whoop whoop? ⁓ like middle of nowhere? ⁓ okay, okay, okay.

The word middle made it easier for me.

Rosie (10:03)
⁓ Hmm...

Roula (10:07)
Music and the stuff, first thing that comes to my mind in my life, daily life. Songs and vaginas.

Rosie (10:15)
But it's songs and but in vaginas

Why does that not surprise me? Yeah. Okay. This is the last one. True blue.

Roula (10:28)
Okay, I'm loving it.

⁓ I know from True Blue, baby, I love you.

Rosie (10:39)
⁓ yeah.

Roula (10:42)
True blue. True blue. Is it like just a word when someone tells you something and you agree?

Rosie (10:53)
Hmm... Not quite. You could, but I don't think I've heard someone use it like that. No.

Roula (10:58)
⁓

blue.

Rosie (11:05)
Although if someone said it to me in agreement, I would understand. It would make sense somehow, but no. Really, you're a true blue podcaster, true blue podcaster.

Roula (11:13)
Give me a sentence.

Rosie (11:20)
True Blue Woman. Yeah, like authentic, amazing, genuine.

Roula (11:20)
Amazing? Good?

Something good. wow. Because

of the word blue, also, I had the feeling that probably it's not all that positive.

Rosie (11:34)
Well, true, because there's term Ozzy's use, ⁓ mum and dad had a blue last night. What do you think that means?

Roula (11:47)
Okay, I'm not going to say sex because then you will think I think of that all the time an argument.

Rosie (11:48)
Hehehe

Yes.

So in that case, blue is negative. So you're not that far off. Okay. Well, what was your favorite one?

Roula (11:59)
Okay, I love them.

Biki, I love it. And Budgie Smugglers is like my favorite. It sounds so awesome.

Rosie (12:06)
Mmm.

think you should buy your husband a pair ⁓ of budgie smugglers.

And do you understand why they're called budgie smugglers? Why do you think they're called that?

Roula (12:21)
Because they smash the badges

Rosie (12:25)
Smash the budgies that sounds so painful.

Roula (12:28)
You

Rosie (12:30)
But yes, I guess so.

Roula (12:33)
Smuggler is from like hiding something. Smuggling.

Rosie (12:36)
Yeah, yeah,

they're hiding their bits, but not really hiding them are they? It's not being hidden at all.

Anyway, you are now a true blue Aussie. You're not a drongo. I think we should have a sanga it together sometime.

Roula (12:48)
I love it.

I can't, I'm so starving for this Senga and you're the true blue friend, Rosie. I love you.

Rosie (12:54)
Mmm.

love you too.

Roula (13:03)
Bye!