Where "Rapt" Comes From
"Rapt" in the sense of delighted or very pleased is informal English; Wiktionary has citations for it from 1906 onward. It remains everyday casual speech in Australia. The related spelling "wrapped" is common in casual writing.
Sources: rapt (Wiktionary) · rapt (Dictionary.com)
“Mum was rapt when the whole family turned up for her birthday.”
“I'm rapt for you, mate, you deserved that promotion.”
"She was rapt with her exam results."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Often spelled "wrapped" in casual writing/texting, though "rapt" is the traditional spelling.
Rapt is a warm, upbeat word, and it almost always follows a bit of good news. You hear it with 'with' or 'about' (rapt with the result, rapt about the new job), and it works as a plain reply too: 'Are you happy with it?' 'Yeah, rapt.' It is friendly and casual, fine with mates and colleagues, though you would probably say 'delighted' in a formal email.
It sits in the same family as 'stoked' and 'chuffed', but it tends to sound a little more low-key than stoked, which can be loud and excited. A learner tip: don't confuse it with the ordinary English 'rapt', meaning absorbed in attention, as in 'a rapt audience'. In Australian conversation, if someone says they're rapt, they mean pleased, not focused.
See also: Stoked (similar happy-and-excited word), Ripper (another positive Aussie reaction), Beauty (upbeat response to good news).
🎓 Want to sound like a true Aussie?
Watch Down Under English on YouTube for real Australian pronunciation, slang lessons, and culture — taught by an Australian educator.
Watch on YouTube →