[334] Aussie Workplace Culture: What’s the Deal with ‘Smoko’?

 [334] Aussie Workplace Culture: What’s the Deal with ‘Smoko’?

What on earth is a ‘smoko’? In this episode, I unpack this very Aussie workplace term and explains when and how it’s used – plus, she shares other fun Aussie slang like ‘arvo’ and ‘sickie’. If you’re planning to work or live in Australia or New Zealand, this one’s for you!

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Full Transcript (Aussie Workplace Culture: Smoko)

Hola amigos y amigas! You’re listening to the English Made Simple Show!
This is episode number 334 (three-three-four), number three hundred and thirty-four, número trescientos treinta y cuatro.

Welcome back, amigos y amigas! It’s your host, Milena from englishmadesimple.net, here with another episode of the English Made Simple Show.

Today’s episode is full of Aussie flavour — we’re going to talk about a very Australian word you might hear at work in Australia… the word is “smoko”. Yep, that’s a real word! If you’ve never heard it before, don’t worry – by the end of this episode, you’ll not only understand what it means, but you’ll also be able to use it like a true Aussie.

So… What Is “Smoko”?

The word “smoko” comes from “smoke break” – as in, a short break someone takes to have a cigarette or just relax for a few minutes.

But in Aussie English, “smoko” doesn’t necessarily mean someone is going to smoke. In fact, most people use it to mean a short break during work – often for coffee, snacks, or just to sit down and rest.

And here’s something interesting:

“Smoko” is mostly used in Australia and New Zealand.

It’s not common in the UK or the US.
So if you say “smoko” in London or New York, people might give you a strange look! But in Aussie workplaces, everyone knows what it means.

Real-Life Example

Let’s say you’re working on a construction site with Ana and Carlos.

Carlos looks tired and says:
Carlos: “Mate, I’m gonna take a smoko.”

This doesn’t mean Carlos is going to light a cigarette – he might just go sit down, drink a coffee, and scroll on his phone for 10 minutes.

And if Ana replies:
Ana: “Sweet as. I’ll join you for smoko.”
She’s saying, “Great, I’ll come too.”

Where You’ll Hear It

“Smoko” is super common in:

• Construction and tradie jobs
• Warehouse and manufacturing jobs
• Even some relaxed office jobs – especially in regional areas

In fact, some Aussie companies schedule smoko breaks into the day – usually around 10am and 3pm.

My First “Smoko” Experience

I remember when I first moved to Australia and someone said, “Let’s go for smoko.”
I was confused! I thought – “Umm, no thank you, I don’t smoke!” 😅

But then I realised – it’s just the Aussie way of saying, “Let’s take a break.”
Now, sometimes I catch myself saying, “I need a smoko,” even when I just mean… I want to go eat a muffin and stare out the window for a bit.

Similar Aussie Expressions

Here are a couple of other Aussie slang terms you might hear at work:

• “Arvo” = afternoon
  
  “Let’s catch up this arvo.”
  
• “Brekkie” = breakfast
  
  “I had a big brekkie before work.”
  
• “Sickie” = a sick day
  
  “I reckon Carlos is chucking a sickie today.”
  (That means he’s probably pretending to be sick… naughty Carlos.)

Repeat After Me

Alright amigos y amigas, let’s practise some of these Aussie phrases together.
I’ll say each phrase slowly, and you can repeat after me.

1. “I’m going for smoko.”
2. “Let’s catch up this arvo.”
3. “Carlos is chucking a sickie again!”

Nice one, amigos!

If you’re planning to work or live in Australia – or even New Zealand – learning local slang like this will help you feel more confident and more connected. If you want to learn with me and practise real-world English, visit englishmadesimple.net/learn-with-me.

We’ll make Aussie English feel simple – and fun!

You’ve been jamming with Milena, keep practising, amigos y amigas, stay cool, and keep in touch. Until next time, hasta la próxima!

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