Lauren can’t stop saying it on MAFS Australia, so what actually IS a bogan!?

There’s one word being launched around on MAFS Australia 2025 that if you’re in the UK, you might have never heard of. It’s clearly being used as an insult, and you could probably hedge a decent guess about what it means – the word is bogan. We don’t use it in the UK, but Lauren from MAFS Australia 2025 wasted zero time branding her fellow bride Jamie a bogan, and specifically boganic. Boganic isn’t a word, but to understand it you must first understand what a bogan is. Is there a UK equivalent to this lingo from down under? Here’s what bogan actually means since the MAFS Australia cast are going to be saying it all season long I fear.

Right, what’s a bogan!?

In simple terms, a bogan is a person who’s often stereotyped as being a bit rough around the edges, fashionably challenged, and absolutely loving it. They’re the type of person who might have a mullet and wear trackies to the shops. If you’re thinking “bad fashion sense” and “doesn’t care,” you’re on the right track.

So, is bogan an insult? Well, kind of. Depending on how it’s used. If someone calls you a bogan with a sneer, they’re probably implying you’re a bit rough around the edges, maybe lacking in sophistication, or have questionable taste in fashion – cough, cough, Lauren from MAFS. In those moments, it’s definitely being used as a dig.

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Bogan isn’t always a bad word. Many Aussies actually wear it like a badge of honour! For some, being called a bogan is all about embracing that working-class pride, the love of simple pleasures, and just not caring about being polished. It’s a term that’s just as likely to be used playfully among mates as it is to sting, so it really depends on the vibe. It’s all about how you say it and who’s saying it!

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Inside the origins of the word bogan

The origin of the word bogan is a bit of a mystery, but there are a few theories floating around.

One of the most popular ideas is that bogan comes from a place name in New South Wales, Australia. Bogan is actually the name of a river and a surrounding area (the Bogan Shire), which is located in the western part of the state. Some believe the term was used to describe people from that region, who were seen as rural, working-class folks with a rougher, more unpolished image. Over time, the word evolved into a slang term for anyone who fit that description, regardless of where they were from.

Another theory is that bogan could have roots in the Irish language. Some people think it might come from the Irish word bogán, meaning a hill or mound, potentially implying a backwater or less sophisticated place. This could have influenced the slang meaning of a person from a less refined, working-class background.

The UK equivalent of a bogan (ish)

Because of the cultural differences between the UK and Australia, bogan doesn’t have an exact counterpart over here. But that being said, one word that is often compared to it is chav. Like bogan, chav can be used lightheartedly however it does have extremely classist roots and is more often levied as an insult rather than in good spirits.

This puts it at odds with bogan which can be much more with love, but it helps paint a picture of the kind of vibe.

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