Slang
Bogan
By EasySay. Published . Updated .
Bogan is an Australian word for a person others see as unrefined or without style.
Cambridge calls it an insulting word. Because it judges someone's class and taste, avoid it about other people. It is rude, so describe what you mean in plain words instead.
Written for EasySay, in our own words.
Bogan: what it is, and what it is not
- IS
- A person seen by others as unrefined or lacking style; often an insult.
- IS
- Called an insulting word by Cambridge.
- IS NOT
- A safe word to say about someone else: Cambridge calls it insulting.
Rude
Meaning: A person, often working-class, seen by others as unrefined or lacking style. Often an insult, sometimes a joke.
How do people say it?
My brother calls himself a proud bogan, and he laughs when he says it.
Don't call people bogans; it sounds like you are looking down on them.
What should I know?
- Who can say it
- Rude. Friends may use it about themselves as a joke. If you say it about someone else, it is a judgement about their class and style, and it can insult them.
- Where you hear it
- Australia
- Elsewhere you might say
- UK: chav, which is also rude. US: redneck or hick, both also insulting.
A bogan is a stereotype more than a person. The picture in people's minds changes with the speaker.
It may be a loud style of dress, a love of loud music or old cars, or a certain way of speaking. Cambridge calls it an insulting word, aimed at how a person dresses, speaks and acts, and at their supposed education and class.
Think of it as a word about class, and treat it with care. If a stranger or a colleague hears you describe them that way, they could be hurt. A safer habit is to describe what you mean, such as loud, casual or old-fashioned, and leave the label out.
On television, a comedy show jokes about bogans in a shopping centre. At work, a manager tells staff that the word is not acceptable in the office. The two examples show a joke and a rule about respect.
Other countries have their own words for the same stereotype, and each one also stings. Britain has chav, and the United States has redneck or hick.
You will meet bogan in Australian films, in chat about music and in jokes about fashion. As a learner, it is enough to know what it means when you hear it, and to keep it out of your own speech.
What else can I say?
More examples
- On television:
The comedy show makes fun of bogans.
Questions people ask
Is bogan an insult?
Yes. Cambridge calls it an insulting word, and it judges someone's class and taste, so it can hurt.
Can I call myself a bogan?
Cambridge calls the word insulting, so it is safer to describe what you mean in plain words.
What can I say instead of bogan?
Describe what you mean with plain words, such as loud, casual or old-fashioned, or leave out the label and say what the person did.
Sources and dates
- EasySay's own writing for the Australian slang hub, EasySay. Licence: original writing for EasySay. Checked .
- Cambridge Dictionary: usage labels, Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Licence: our own words, from the facts in the source. Checked .
Cite this page
EasySay. "Bogan". https://easysay.org/slang/australian/bogan. Last updated 23 October 2026.
https://easysay.org/slang/australian/bogan