Where "Spunk" Comes From
The word has a surprisingly long history — it comes from Irish and Scottish Gaelic words for "tinder," dating back to the 1500s, which shifted to mean "spirit" or "courage" by 1773.
The modern Aussie meaning of "attractive person" is a later twist, and it was cemented in national youth vocabulary by the 1979 novel "Puberty Blues."
“Everyone at the netball club reckons the new coach is a spunk.”
“That actor is a total spunk in the new series.”
Her new boyfriend is an absolute spunk.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Used casually and affectionately about someone good-looking, most often among younger Australians.
Spunk is a compliment about looks, and it's fairly cheeky. People use it about a celebrity, a friend's new partner or someone they've noticed at a party, often with a laugh. It's more playful than formal, so it sounds natural among mates and would sound odd in a formal setting. It's mostly said about people, usually in a light and friendly way.
Be aware that in other varieties of English, spunk has a crude meaning, so it can get laughs or raised eyebrows from overseas visitors. Australians tend to hear the good-looking sense first, though tone still matters. A near-synonym is 'good sort', which sounds a little older and gentler. Learner tip: it's safe with friends who share the joke, less so with someone you've just met, and it's not a word for describing a colleague.
See also: Good Sort (a similar idea, a bit more old-fashioned), Ripper (another strong Australian compliment), Bloke (a general word for a man).
Can be used as a noun ("he's a spunk") or occasionally as an adjective ("pretty spunky") for the same idea.
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