heaps

In Australian slang, heaps means lots, or very. “Heaps of people” is a big crowd, and “heaps good” means really good.

What heaps means

Everyone uses “heaps of” to mean a lot of something. What makes it Australian is how far it goes. Wiktionary records heaps as Australian slang for a large amount, and as a colloquial adverb meaning very much (“I love him heaps”). Wikipedia’s article on Australian English notes that heaps can also go in front of an adjective as an intensifier: “the waves were heaps good.”

“Thanks heaps” is a common, friendly way to say thanks a lot, and “heaps” alone can answer a question: “Did you have fun?” “Heaps.”

Examples

• “There were heaps of people at the beach.”
• “That movie was heaps funny.”
• “Thanks heaps for the lift.”

Where it came from

The noun heap, a pile, is ancient. Using “heaps” to mean “a lot” is common in British English too. The Australian twist is the intensifier: Wikipedia says “heaps good” style use was more common in regional Australia and South Australia but has been common in cities for decades.

Related terms

• Good on ya: well done.
• Stoked: thrilled.
• Arvo: afternoon.
• Hella: the Northern California version of “very.”

See more terms like this in our Australian slang guide.