Slang Words That Are Different in Each Australian State

Australia’s Great Regional Word Divide

Having lived in Australia for over three decades, one of the most delightful aspects of Australian English I've observed is how fiercely locals defend their regional vocabulary. While nationwide terms like g'day and arvo unite the country, individual states have developed distinct slang preferences for food, clothing, and everyday items.

If you take a road trip across state borders, here are the most famous regional slang differences you'll encounter.

1. The Great Swimwear Debate: Bathers vs Cossie vs Togs

Perhaps the most famous linguistic battle in Australia revolves around what you wear to the beach or swimming pool:

• Victoria, South Australia & Western Australia: People call them bathers.
• New South Wales: locals almost exclusively say cossie (short for costume) or swimmers.
• Queensland: You'll hear them called togs.

Say "cossie" in Melbourne or "bathers" in Sydney, and locals will instantly spot that you're from interstate!

2. Deep-Fried Potato Delights: Potato Cake vs Potato Scallop

Walk into a takeaway fish and chip shop in Australia and order a deep-fried slice of battered potato. Depending on where you are standing, you must ask for different things:

• In Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, it is strictly a potato cake.
• In New South Wales and Queensland, it is known as a potato scallop.

This debate causes endless good-natured arguments on social media, with locals insisting their state's terminology is the only correct one.

3. State Nicknames & Friendly Rivalries

Australians also have affectionate (and sometimes cheeky) slang nicknames for people living in different states:

• Queensland: Queenslaanders are affectionately called Banana Benders due to the state's huge banana-growing industry.
• Western Australia: West Australians are sometimes called Sandgropers after a local subterranean insect.
• Tasmania: Tasmanians are referred to as Apple Eaters or coming from the "Apple Isle".
• New South Wales: People from NSW are historically called Cockroaches (especially during the annual State of Origin rugby league tournament!).

4. Football Codes: What Does "Footy" Mean?

While the word footy is used across Australia, the sport it refers to changes dramatically depending on where you are:

• Below the "Barassi Line" (Victoria, SA, WA, Tasmania), footy almost exclusively means Australian Rules Football (AFL).
• Above the line (NSW and Queensland), footy usually refers to Rugby League (NRL).