Milo

🍺 noun · Food & Drink
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1930s Still common
Definition
A chocolate and malt powder mixed into milk, and the drink itself.
πŸŽ₯ Watch

Where "Milo" Comes From

Invented by Australian industrial chemist Thomas Mayne in Sydney during the Depression, specifically as an affordable, nutritious drink for children, and launched at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1934. It's named after Milo of Croton, a celebrated strongman of ancient Greek athletics.

A detail most Australians don't know: Milo has always been, and still is, manufactured in a single factory in Smithtown on the NSW mid-north coast β€” not overseas, despite NestlΓ©'s global reach with the brand today.

Source:

Example Sentence
"Want a Milo before bed?"
Word Type
Noun
Category
🍺 Food & Drink
Origin
🇦🇺 Australian English
Usage
Informal / Spoken
Era
1930s
Still say it?

Do Aussies still say “Milo”?

How Aussies Actually Use It

It's used for the powder itself, the drink made from it, and even eaten dry by the spoonful by generations of kids.

"A Milo before bed" is a classic bit of Australian childhood nostalgia.

🎓 Want to sound like a true Aussie?

Watch Down Under English on YouTube for real Australian pronunciation, slang lessons, and culture β€” taught by an Australian educator.

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