Greetings
How ya going?
A greeting — answer 'Good thanks, you?'
Hello / how are you. Not a question about your journey.
Daily life
Stobie pole
STOH-bee
The concrete-and-steel power poles that line every South Australian street. Invented in Adelaide in 1924 because the state had no straight timber. You will see nothing like them anywhere else.
metroCARD
'Tap on with your metroCARD'
Adelaide Metro's card, though since February 2026 you can just tap a bank card or phone on any bus, tram or train.
Bathers
BAY-thers
Swimwear, as in Victoria. Queensland and WA say togs, Sydney says cossies.
The Bay
Glenelg
The beach suburb at the end of the tram line. 'Going down the Bay' is a standing Adelaide weekend plan.
Servo / bottle-o
SERV-oh, BOTTL-oh
Petrol station / liquor shop. SA has independent bottle shops rather than the supermarket duopoly you find elsewhere.
Food
Fritz
Rhymes with 'bits'
The pale processed luncheon meat every SA child was given a free slice of at the deli counter. Called devon in NSW and polony in WA. Uniquely SA by name.
Parmi
PAR-mee — never 'parma' here
Chicken parmigiana. Victorians insist on 'parma' and South Australians will not budge. This is a genuine border dispute.
A pale
'I'll have a pale'
Coopers Pale Ale, brewed in Regency Park. Ordering one is the local default in a way no other Australian city has.
Social
Mad March
Said with a mix of pride and exhaustion
February–March, when the Fringe, the Adelaide Festival, WOMADelaide and the motor race all run at once and the city triples in energy.
Emergency
Triple zero
Dial 000 for police, fire or ambulance
The emergency number. Say which service you need; 112 also connects from any mobile.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.