Where “Struth” Comes From
“Struth” is a short form of “God’s truth”, used as an exclamation of surprise, and it’s also spelled “strewth”. Green’s Dictionary of Slang lists it as “a mild euphemistic oath”.
Its earliest dated uses in Green’s are British, from 1883 and 1888, and it’s recorded in Australia, Canada and New Zealand as well. It’s part of the family of mild exclamations alongside “crikey”.
Source:
“Struth, that’s a big spider!”
How Aussies Actually Use It
Today it’s a playful, stage-Aussie word: great for a joke, rare in a serious conversation.
In Real Life
You’ll hear “struth” in old comedy, bush poetry and in the stage version of an Aussie accent. It’s an exclamation of surprise, like “goodness me”. People use it today for a laugh, often with an over-the-top accent. It sits with “strewth”, “crikey” and “stone the crows” as part of a group of mild Aussie exclamations that are more fun than offensive.
Quick Questions
Is struth the same as strewth?
Yes. They’re two spellings of the same exclamation.
Do people still say struth?
Occasionally, mostly for fun or among older speakers.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: STROOTH.
In conversation:
- Struth, is that the time?
- Struth, look at the price of that!
- Well, struth, I never knew that.
Good to know: It’s old-fashioned and a bit comic, like “crikey”. You’ll hear it more in films and jokes than in daily life.
See also: Crikey, Strewth, Stone the crows
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