Un-Official New Zealand Language
Officially New Zealand has three languages, English, Māori and New Zealand sign language (NZSL). However, as in many countries, the locals can often sound as if they are speaking an entirely different language of their own devising. English-speaking visitors from the USA, UK and even near neighbour, Australia can often be tripped up by kiwi slang and terms that they've just never encountered before.
In common with Australians and Poms (English people), New Zealanders are great fans of using abbreviations wherever possible. We've picked a few of the many phrases you might come across to help you better understand commonly-used, everyday Kiwi-English:
- banger: sausage
- bach or crib: small holiday home (pronounced "batch")
- beaut: great; good fun
- biscuit: cookie
- bloke: man
- bonnet: car hood
- boot: car trunk
- braces: suspenders
- brassed off: disappointed, annoyed
- brekkie: short for 'breakfast'
- bumper: fender
- bun-fight: social gathering or dense, eager crowd (e.g. a barbecue or sale)
- bush: small, dense forest
- bust a gut: to make an intense effort
- capsicum: pepper
- car park: parking lot
- chips: french fries / (potato) crisps
- cheers: goodbye, thanks or good luck
- chemist : pharmacy, drugstore
- chilly bin: esky, cool-box (e.g. insulated box for keeping food and drinks cool)
- choice: very good
- chook: chicken
- chrissy: Christmas
- corker: very good
- courgette: zuchini
- crook : sick, unwell
- cuppa: cup of tea (or other hot drink)
- dairy : corner shop, convenience store
- dunny : toilet, bathroom, lavatory
- doonah : duvet, quilt
- good on ya, mate: congratulations, well done
- good as gold: an affirmative response
- ground floor: first floor
- gumboots or gummies: rubber boots, wellington boots, wellies
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- heaps: general expression meaning a lot
- hokey pokey: honeycomb
- hottie: hot water bottle, attractive person or a hot toddy (drink)
- jandals: thongs, flip-flops
- jumper: woollen sweater
- Kiwi: New Zealander
- kiwi: an endangered flightless bird native to New Zealand
- lift: elevator
- lolly (lollies): candy (candies), sweet (sweets)
- long-drop : outhouse, outdoor toilet
- mate: friend, buddy
- motorway: freeway
- munted: destroyed, broken
- nappy: diaper
- no worries: no need to worry
- path: pavement, sidewalk
- petrol: gasoline
- pikelet: small pancake
- rellies: family, relatives
- sarnie: sandwich
- scull: to drink rapidly
- she'll be alright: it will be okay
- smoko: break, rest period
- squiz: to take a look at
- stoked (stoaked): pleased with oneself
- stubby: small bottle of beer
- stuffed: feeling really tired, exhausted
- sunnies: sunglasses
- take a hike: go away
- tiki tour: roundabout way to travel
- tramping: hiking
- togs: swimsuit, bathing suit
- wop-wops: out of the way location
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More Language Information
If you'd like to learn more about the language in New Zealand before you travel, follow the links below to find out more about:
