What it means
Arvo is the Aussie and Kiwi shortcut for afternoon, usually meaning the stretch after lunch through early evening. You’ll hear it in plans, texts, and workplace chat: this arvo, tomorrow arvo, arvo tea. It’s part of the local love for chopping words down to size, like servo and bottle-o. Pronounced AH-vo, it sounds friendly and laid-back, the kind of word you’d use with mates, not in a stuffy email. Sometimes it’s just handy shorthand in diaries, footy chat, and group messages.
Usage examples
"How about a cheeky beer this arvo? I knock off at three, swing by the bottle-o, then we’ll fire up the barbie at yours."
"Catch you this arvo down at the beach, bring the cricket bat and we'll have a hit."
"Spent the whole arvo fixing the fence and now my back's done in, worth a cold one."
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.