Woolies

๐Ÿ“ noun ยท Places
โ† Back to Dictionary
Traditional Still common
Definition
Woolworths supermarket - where most Aussies do their shopping.
Example Sentence
"Pop into Woolies and grab some snags for the barbie."

Where "Woolies" Comes From

A simple, affectionate shortening of "Woolworths," Australia's largest supermarket chain, following the classic Australian habit of clipping brand and business names.

The nickname became so widely used that it functions almost as the chain's unofficial second name in everyday speech.

Word Type
Noun
Category
๐Ÿ“ Places
Origin
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australian English
Usage
Informal / Spoken
Era
Traditional

How Aussies Actually Use It

The default way most Australians refer to the supermarket โ€” "pop into Woolies and grab some snags for the barbie" โ€” used so consistently that the formal name feels almost unnecessarily long in conversation.

It's used across all ages and regions, appearing even in the company's own informal branding and advertising.

๐ŸŽ“ Want to sound like a true Aussie?

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

Watch on YouTube โ†’

More Places Slang