The straightforward answer: “G’day” is the canonical Australian hello, but “How ya going?” is what you’ll actually hear more often in Melbourne in 2026. “How are you?” sounds slightly formal. “You right?” means “are you OK?” or “can I help you?” and is very common in retail and hospitality.
Here’s the practical breakdown for British visitors.
The Core Greetings
G’day (pronounced “guh-DAY”) — The iconic one. More common in regional areas and among older Australians than in inner-city Melbourne. Still used and 100% not ironic. Say it at a pub and nobody will blink.
How ya going? — The Melbourne standard. Response: “Yeah, good thanks, you?” No need to explain. Don’t say “I’m fine, thank you” — it sounds stilted.
You right? — Not an existential question. A bartender asking “You right there?” is asking if you’ve been served or if you need help. “Yeah cheers” is the right response.
Hiya / Hey — Increasingly common, particularly among under-35s. Australian cities are less slang-heavy than they used to be; international influence has flattened some of the distinctiveness.
Slang You’ll Hear in Melbourne
These are not performed for tourists. Melbourne locals use these naturally:
Arvo — afternoon (“see you this arvo”)
Arvo tea or just afternoon tea — both used
Brekkie — breakfast
Servo — service station / petrol station
Bottle-o — bottle shop (liquor store)
Chockers — completely full (“the tram is chockers”)
Reckon — think/believe (“I reckon that’s the best ramen in Fitzroy”)
Heaps — a lot (“heaps of cafes on Smith Street”)
Sick — excellent (younger Australians, not universal)
Sweet as — great, no problem (“sweet as, see you there”)
Ute — utility vehicle / pickup truck
Footy — AFL football in Melbourne specifically; don’t call it soccer
Maccas — McDonald’s (universal and official enough that McDonald’s Australia uses it)
Smashed avo — avocado on toast (genuinely not ironic, genuinely everywhere)
Ta — thank you (informal, borrowed from British English and kept)
No worries — you’re welcome, not a problem (said constantly)
She’ll be right — it’ll work out fine (less common among younger Melburnians)
Thongs — flip flops (not underwear, which will surprise British visitors)
What Not to Say
British slang that can cause confusion or offence:
- Fanny — means vagina in Australia, not bottom. Don’t use it casually.
- Knackered — understood, rarely used by Australians; say “wrecked” instead
- Brilliant — fine, but it marks you as British immediately
- Cheers — actually used widely in Australia; you won’t sound strange
- Bloody — fully adopted into Australian English; very normal
Melbourne-Specific Context
Melbourne has a self-consciously cosmopolitan identity. In Fitzroy, Collingwood, or Brunswick, you’re more likely to hear café staff say “What can I get you?” than any slang. The outer suburbs and tradesperson culture retain more traditional Australian vernacular.
The one phrase that marks you as a tourist in Melbourne: asking “How are you?” in a retail setting. “You right?” or nothing at all is the Melbourne mode.
For a broader slang guide aimed at British expats, see Australian Slang Guide for British Expats.
