Kiwi Slangs
mate \ˈmāt\ – slang for “friend” or buddy, and can sometimes be used to refer to a stranger, as in “How is it going, mate?” It is a word commonly used in New Zealand.
bach \batʃ\ – Vacation house (pronounced batch)
bro \brəʊ\ – Brother or good friend
chips \tʃɪp\ – Crisps
chur \koo r\ – Thank you “Chur Bro”
cuzzie or Cuz \ˈkʌzɪ\ – Cousin. Also used instead of “Bro”
dairy \dair-ee\ – Corner Store
duvet \doo-vey, dyoo-\ – Doona \ Comforter
eh \ey, e\ – Eh? as in Pardon?
flannel \flan-l\ – Face Cloth
flash \flash\ – Sensational or “thats flash” meaning it looks really good.
gutted \guht-ed\ – Very upset
hard case \hahrd-keys\ – Funny person “Yeah, he’s quite a hard case”
hot chips \hot chips\ – French Fries
jandals \jan-dl\ – Flip Flops; thongs; terms for slippers.
jelly \jel-ee\ – Jello
jersey \jur-zee\ or jumper \juhm-per\– Pull Over / Fleece
kiwi \kee-wee\ – Term often used to refer to people who lives in New Zealand; Also a native bird to New Zealand.
knackered \nak-erd\ – Tired/Exhausted
long drop \lawng, long drop\ – Small outhouse over a pit, with no flushing mechanism
motorway \moh-ter-wey\ – Highway
nappie \nap-ee\ – Diaper
no worries \noh wur-ees, wuhr-ees\ – It’s OK / Not a Problem
not even – Not true
serviette \sur-vee-et\ – Napkin
skint – Broke / poor / no money
skull \skuhl\ – Drink all of your beverage (normally alcoholic) in one go without a breath
stubbie \stuhb-ee\ – Can of Beer or very short pants that men wear, especially farmers and rugby players
sweet as \sweet az; unstressed uh z\ – Cool or Awesome
ta \tah\ – Thank You
thongs \thawngs, thongs\ – G-String style underwear
tomato sauce \tuh–mey-toh, –mah– saws\ – Ketchup
torch \tawrch\ – Flashlight
tramping \tram-ping\ – Hiking; trekking.
yeah, nah \yai, nah\ – This is an indecisive phrase, followed by an explanation
you’re all good – It’s OK, thank you
Ref: Collins dictionary; New Zealand History Online; archives.govt.nz;
written by JB / edited and published by AL
