Where "Sunnies" Comes From
"Sunnies" applies the "-ies" suffix to "sun" (from "sunglasses") and is documented in Australian English from the 1960s. Green’s Dictionary of Slang’s earliest dated citation is from 1979, in the Australian literary magazine Southerly ("sky blue plastic sunnies"). All citations in both the Oxford English Dictionary and Green's Dictionary of Slang come from Australian or New Zealand sources — making this one of the clearer examples of a shortening that originated in this part of the world. Australia's UV radiation levels are consistently among the highest in the world at comparable latitudes, making sunglasses effectively standard equipment.
Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer globally, connected to both its latitude and its outdoor culture. Sunnies are worn year-round, not just in summer, and are treated as a practical necessity. The word's warmth and ease fit the outdoor-oriented Australian lifestyle exactly.
Source:
"Grab your sunnies, it's bright out there today."
How Aussies Actually Use It
"Sunnies" is used constantly, especially through summer — losing or forgetting your sunnies is a genuinely common minor daily frustration for many Australians.
"Where are my sunnies?" is one of the most relatable, universally understood lines in everyday Australian conversation.
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