US expat shares confusion over Australian texting slang in TikTok video

A US expat has shared her struggle to understand Australia’s many “confusing” slang words – saying it’s “like learning a whole new language”.

A US expat has shared her struggle to understand Australia’s many “confusing” slang words – ones she’d never heard before making the move Down Under.

In a hilarious TikTok video, Jaylee, who moved to Queensland from California earlier this year, described her difficulty to “decipher” her friends’ text messages when they use terms like “tomoz arvo” or “looking for a park”.

“It’s like learning a whole new language,” she said.

A US expat has shared why she’s confused by her Aussie mates' text slang. Picture: TikTok

In a TikTok, the woman said it was “like learning a whole new language”. Picture: TikTok

Our habit of shortening words – McDonalds down to “Maccas” or service station to “servo” – left Jaylee baffled at what her mates were actually trying to say.

“The thing I thought of when I saw [tomoz arvo] was ‘tomato avocado’,” she admitted in the clip, gesturing to the various texts she’d received.

“I don’t know, I thought they were talking about a sandwich. It actually means ‘tomorrow afternoon’. This word [arvo] means afternoon.”

When another friend texted that they were “looking for a park”, Jaylee assumed they were searching for a public playground with natural surroundings.

“Now this one seems obvious but when people first said this to me, ‘Oh I’m looking for a park’ or ‘Did you find a park?’, I’m literally thinking of a park, a grassy place with a jungle gym,” she explained.

“But this means they’re looking for a parking spot.”

@jaylee.promise it’s like learning a whole new language #australia#bestie♬ Love You So - The King Khan & BBQ Show

As for when a friend texted her the word “casj”, Jaylee simply said: “I honestly thought this was a typo.”

“But multiple people kept sending me ‘casj’. I literally found out it’s short for ‘casual’ which means like ‘yeah cool’,” she added.

The clip, which has drummed up more than 440,000 views, drew sympathy from fellow expats and Aussies alike – many of whom had never heard the slang terms themselves.

“I have never heard of ‘casj’ and I was born and lived in Australia my whole life,” commented one woman.

“As a 38-year-old Australian, I’ve never seen or used ‘casj’ in my life – that one seems unique to a friendship group,” another said.

While a third adding, “Ain’t no way people be adding ‘j’ to cas, that ain’t Australian to add more letters.”

Jumping into the comments, Jaylee said that “casj” was the way Sunshine Coast and Brisbane residents appeared to spell the word.

“Literally everyone I know on the Sunshine Coast spells it like this I’m shocked,” she explained.