Kiwi Slang
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New Zealander's are referred to as Kiwis - not the fruit, but instead the native bird. This is just the beginning of Kiwi Slang and Lingo. Lingo? Language/Local Slang.
We're not here to confuse you, it's going to be hard enough as some say we speak too fast and we sound funny. So the below will give you a bit of an idea on what you're in for. Of course, it's not all here, and it is also impossible to replicate the mumbling that many Kiwi's are famous for through reading, however, we will make sure your guide enunciates so you can then ask him what he meant.
Planning a trip to New Zealand? We specialise in providing tour coach transport and itineraries for private groups - school, sports, family, friends, anything! Check out more details HERE!
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Bach
A holiday home, pronounced BATCH. More commonly it is Kiwis in the North Island who refer to them as a 'bach' and in the South Island refer to them as a 'crib'
Blimmin'
Another way of saying the cuss word "bloody" - e.g. "Blimmin' Heck!"
Bloody
A type of cuss word, used to emphasise feelings and has nothing to do with blood - e.g. "it was a bloody good night out", "he is a bloody idiot", "I don't bloody know"
Bloke
Man - e.g. "see that bloke over there"
Bob's your Uncle
"There you have it"
Bogans
A person with an unsophisticated background, or whose speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplify a lack of manners and education. Google "Outrageous Fortune" a NZ TV Show...this helps give you a visual!
Box of Fluffies
In response to "how are you" and you are well - e.g. "I'm a box of fluffies today, thank you"
Bro
Brother or good friend
Builder
Carpenter/Chippy
Buggar
A word used for disappointment - e.g. when you tell someone your car broke down they respond, "buggar!"
Also can be used to refer to an older man - e.g. "did you see the old buggar yesterday?"
Caravan
A mobile home trailer towed behind a vehicle
Carked It
Died - e.g. "Bob carked it" or "the old car carked it yesterday"
Chick
Girl/Woman - e.g. "Thanks chick" or "Go and ask that chick over there". Also used as "Chicky" e.g. "That chicky-babe over there"
Chips
Crisps
Chippy
Carpenter/Builder
Chocka
Full or overflowing "the bus is chocka today!"
Choice
When pleased with something - e.g. "I got you a ticket to the rugby" you would respond with "choice bro!"
Chook
Short for Chicken. Also used in reference to an older lady e.g. "the old chook over there"
Chur
Thank You - "Chur Bro"
Crack Up
When referring to someone that is funny - e.g. "Bob is such a crack up"
Cracked Up
Your reaction of laughter to something funny - e.g. "He told a joke and I just cracked up"
Crash Here
Sleep here - e.g. "you can crash here tonight"
Creek
Small stream / very small river
Crib
A holiday home. More commonly it is Kiwis in the South Island who refer to them as a 'crib' and in the North Island refer to them as a 'bach'.
Cuppa
Refers to a cup of tea or coffee - we do tend to speak quickly & merge our words, so "cup of tea" became "cuppa tea".
Cuzzie or Cuz
Cousin. Also used instead of "Bro"
Dag
Someone who is funny - e.g. "that Bob is such a dag!"
Dag
The yucky bit of wool that hangs around a sheep's back end covered in poo - e.g. "that sheep has dags" or "I have to dag the sheep" means to cut away the bad wool
Dairy
Corner/Convenience Store
Dear
Expensive - "that shop is dear"
Dole
Unemployment benefit
Dunny
Toilet - e.g."I'm going to go use the dunny"
Duvet
Doona / Comforter
Eh
Used at the end of a sentence when you're not really asking a question, more providing a statement that you want confirmation for such as "it's really hot today, eh". Pronounced 'ay'
Eh
Eh? as in Pardon?
Feijoa
A popular garden tree and the fruit is commonly eaten which is green and sweet
Fizzy Drink
Soda/Pop
Flannel
Face Cloth
Flat Out
"Oh man, he was just roaring down the motorway going flat out!". AKA "Oh man, he was going very fast down the highway"
Flog
Steal - "I might flog it today"
Footie
Rugby/Football/Soccer - e.g. "I'm going to watch the footie today"
G String
Thong style underwear
Gawk
Stare e.g. "stop gawking at me"
Glad Wrap
The brand name of a cling film product, many Kiwi's will say 'Glad Wrap' in reference to cling film regardless of what brand they are using.
GC
Good Chap. Kiwi’s will commonly change the word “Chap” to another word starting with C which I will not write here in case of causing offence!
Good as Gold
Thanking someone for something - e.g. "thanks for doing that, good as gold"
Responding that you well when asked - e.g. "how are you doing", "good as gold thank you"
Gumboots
Wellingtons / Out door water proof boots
Haka
Not slang, but it's something we talk about! Maori war dance, more "famously" known through The All Blacks rugby team
Hangi
Not slang, but you will hear about it while here! The traditional style of Maori cooking
Hard Bro
"Hard Bro, hard" bascially in agreement with their friend
Hard Case
Funny person - "Yeah, he's quite a hard case"
Hard Out
"Oh yeah hard out!" meaning "I totally agree!"
Hard Yakka
Hard work - "it's hard yakka but worth it!"
Heaps
A lot/Lots - e.g. yeah there are heaps of sheep in New Zealand
Hoon
Hooligan/young crazy driver of a car. Commonly referred to as "those blimmin' hoons out on the street".
Hot Chips
French Fries
Hottie
Hot water bottle and also in reference to a good looking person - e.g. "check out that hottie over there"
Hungus
Hungry person eating all the food - e.g. "stop being a hungus and leave us some!"
Ice Block
Ice Pop/Ice Lolly
Jam
Fruit preserve/Jelly
Jandals
Flip Flops / Thongs
Jelly
Jello
Jersey or Jumper
Pull Over / Fleece / Sweater
Judder Bar
Speed Bump
Keen / Keen as
In positive response in wanting to do something - e.g. when asked if you want to go to the movies tomorrow, "oh yeah, I am keen as"
(As is used like a simile - e.g. as keen as pie)
Kiwi
New Zealanders - Also a native bird to New Zealand - Also shoe polish brand - Also a fruit!
Knackered
Tired/Exhausted
Lamingtons
Vanilla Sponge squares, dipped in chocolate and then rolled in coconut, served with whipped cream and jam. Cam's mum makes these for us - YUM
Laughing Gear
Your mouth, commonly used when being given food to eat - e.g. "Get your laughing gear around that"
Long Drop
Small outhouse over a pit, with no flushing mechanism
Mare
Short for Nightmare when you are awake and things are not going well - e.g. "I'm having an absolute mare at work today"
Mate
Friend - "Thanks Mate"
Motorway
Highway
Munted
Broken / Not Working / Damaged
Nappy
Diaper
No Worries
It's OK / Not a Problem
Not Even
Not true
Not Even Ow
Ow Not really a meaning to this, just gives the phrase being used more emphasis
O.E.
Overseas Experience - a common gap year/s holiday that many Kiwi's take
'P'
Methamphetamine/Ice - called "P" due to the Pseudoephedrine used to manufacture the drug
Pack a Sad
Have a temper-tantrum - e.g. "don't ask Bob he's packing a sad"
Pakaru (puk-ar-roo)
Not working / Broken
Pakeha
A white New Zealander - not Maori
Pavlova
Meringue, smothered in whipped cream and fresh fruit.
Pharlap
Famous Horse born in New Zealand during 1920’s (see him at Te Papa Museum)
Plonk
Bottle of wine - normally a cheap variety
Piss
Alcohol "I'm on the piss"
Piss
"He's taking the piss" - he's taking advantage
Piss Up
Party - e.g. "Bob is having a piss up tomorrow"
Popsical
Ice Block/Ice Lolly - this is a common brand name however many Kiwi's refer to Ice Blocks as Popsicals
Post Code
Zip Code
Pram
Stoller/Pushchair
Pretty
We use this two ways - to tell you that you are pretty/beautiful (all of our passengers are!) or to over extend "that shop is pretty dear", "yeah it's pretty expensive"
Quack
Doctor - e.g. "I'm off to see the Quack today"
Red Bands
A truely iconic brand of Gumboots (Wellingtons) made in New Zealand. Come on, grab your Red Bands and I'll take ya out on a tour of the farm
Ring
Telephone someone - e.g. "I'll give them a ring now"
Scarfie
University Student, particularly from Otago University
See Ya Later!
Saying goodbye to someone but does not particularly mean that you will see them later
Serviette
Napkin
She'll be Right / She'll come right
It will be OK / It's not a Problem
Shorts
Short pants
Sickie
Taking a sick day off work/or pretending to be sick and not going to work - e.g. "he's throwing a sickie today"
Skint
Broke / poor / no money
Skull
Drink all of your beverage (normally alcoholic) in one go without a breath
Snarler
Sausage
Squizz
Take a look - "Here let me have a squizz"
Sprog
Child/Children - e.g. "I have a couple of sprogs"
Spud
Potato
Stink One
A phrase of disappointment - when told that there were no mince pies left a response may be, "oh stink one"
Straight Up
When someone is being honest - e.g. "straight up bro, it definitely happened"
Stubbie
Can of Beer or very short pants that men wear, especially farmers and rugby players
Sunday Driver
Slow driver normally well below speed limit
Sunnies
Sunglasses
Suss
To investigate, short for suspect - "I need to suss it out first" or "he does look a bit suss"
Sweet As
Cool or Awesome, also can be used as "it's ok" or "not a problem"
Ta
Thank You - e.g. when someone hands you something you asked for, you respond with "ta".
Also commonly used when teaching young children you want something that they are holding, you hold your hand out and say "ta", such as an advanced thank you for giving me what you are holding.
Takeaways
Fast food
Tea
Dinner - "what's for tea tonight?"
The Boonies
Middle of nowhere
Thongs
G-String style underwear
Togs
Swimsuit
Toilet
When asking where a bathroom is - e.g. "where is the toilet?"
Tomato Sauce
Ketchup
Torch
Flashlight
Tramping
Hiking
Tu Meke (Two Mek-ee)
Awesome, good job
Twink
White-Out / correction pen
Ute
Pick up truck
Waka
Maori Canoe - also what we commonly refer to the bus as - "land waka"
We'll see you right
An assurance that you will do good by the person you are speaking to
Westie
Referring to West Aucklanders, who many believe appear to be Bogans. Again, Google "Outrageous Fortune".....
Wobbly
Temper-tantrum. Used in reference such as, "then he threw a massive wobbly"
Wop-Wops
Middle of nowhere
Yeah, nah bro
This is an indecisive phrase, normally followed by an explanation
You alright?
A question used in greeting, basically meaning"how are you?", not asking if you are sick.
You're all good
It's OK, thank you