Kiwi Slang
Like most English speaking countries, New Zealand has developed its own informal vocabulary or 'slang'. However, for new migrants, it can be difficult to understand. Here is a list of some words and phrases with their meanings to get you started. Unfortunately, the Kiwi accent is something you will have to master yourself!
Kiwi Slang |
Meaning |
| Arvo | Afternoon |
| Balls up | Mistake |
| Bach/Crib | Small holiday house |
| Backblocks/Back of beyond | Inland country |
| Barbie | BBQ/Bar-B-Que |
| Bickie | Biscuit/Cookie |
| Blimey or Gorblimey | Exclamation of surprise |
| Bloke | A man |
| Bloody oath | Absolutely |
| Blotto/Legless | Drunk/intoxicated |
| Bludge | Impose on someone, take advantage of them |
| Blue "Make a blue" | Make a mistake |
| Bog | Toilet |
| Bonnet | Car Hood |
| Boot | Car Trunk |
| The Bot/the flu | Influenza |
| Boy racer | Young car enthusiasts identified by their style of dress, car modifications and loud exhausts |
| Box of birds | Happy and in good health |
| Caravan | Small towed mobile holiday home |
| Chemist | Pharmacy/Drugstore |
| Chilly Bin | Portable insulated cooler box (Eski = Australian) |
| Chips | French fries or potato chips |
| Chippy | Carpenter |
| Chook | Chicken |
| Cordial | Sweet coloured drink |
| Cot | Child's crib |
| Courgette | Zucchini |
| Crayfish | Lobster |
| Creche | Daycare centre |
| Crook | Sick |
| Crook "He put you crook!" | He did you wrong/gave you the wrong information |
| Cuppa "Come in for a cuppa!" | Cup of tea or coffee |
| Crikey/Crikey dick! | Exclamation of amazement |
| Dag | Humorous person, light heartered character |
| Dairy | Small shop that sells milk, bread, confectionery etc. |
| Dead ringer | Looks strikingly similar |
| Dear | Expensive |
| Dole | Unemployment benefit |
| Down the road | "You'll be down the road!" - fired, dumped (by girl/boyfriend) etc |
| Dougnut | Kind of cake or long bread roll filled with cream and jam |
| Dummy | Baby pacifier |
| Dunny | Toilet |
| Duvet | Comforter on bed |
| Entree | Appetizer |
| Electorate | Local voting district |
| Exercise book | School work book |
| Fair dinkum | Honest/real |
| Fair go! | Be reasonable |
| Felt tip pen | Marker pen |
| Filled roll | Long bread roll filled with meat and/or salad ingredients |
| Fizzy drink | Carbonated softdrink |
| Flannel | Washcloth/facecloth |
| Flat | Apartment or shared house |
| Flatmate | Someone you share a flat with |
| Flat out, flat stick | Full speed |
| Flog | Steal |
| Footpath | Sidewalk |
| Fortnight | Two weeks |
| Freezing works | Meat processing factory |
| Gidday | Hello |
| Get a wriggle on! | Hurry up! |
| Give it heaps/Go for it! | Try hard |
| Glovebox | Car glove compartment |
| Gladwrap | Plastic food wrap/clingfilm |
| Good nick | Good condition |
| Grotty | Run down/worn out/dirty |
| Gumboots | Rubber boots used in the garden or on farm |
| G-String | Thong (underwear) |
| Hard case | Humorous personality |
| Heaps | A lot |
| Give it heaps! | Push it to the limit |
| History "She's history" | She's gone, finished, broken, unfixable |
| Hokey-Pokey | Icecream Flavour |
| Hoon | Young lout |
| Hooray | Goodbye |
| Hot Water Cupboard | Linen closest containing hot water heater |
| Iceblock | Popsicle/frozen fruit drink on a stick |
| Jandals | Flip flops, rubber sandals (footwear) |
| Janola | Brand of bleach |
| Jellymeat | Canned pet food |
| Jersey/jumper | Sweater |
| Judderbar | Speed bump |
| Jug | Kettle |
| Kai | Maori word for food |
| Kindy | Kindergarten/pre-school |
| Kip/40 winks | Nap/short sleep |
| Kiwi | New Zealander or flightless native bird (not short for Kiwifruit) |
| Knackered | Exhausted |
| Knickers | Female underwear/panties |
| Kumara | Maori name for sweet potato |
| Lay-By | Retailer puts an item aside until it's paid off |
| Lift | Elevator |
| Local rag | Local newspaper |
| Lolly | Sweet/confectionery |
| Long drop | Outdoor toilet build over a hole in the ground |
| Loo | Toilet |
| Lounge/sitting room | Living room |
| Lounge suite | Sofa |
| Mate | Friend |
| Milo | Nestle branded chocolate drink |
| Mince | Ground beef |
| Mozzie | Mosquito |
| Mountain Oysters | Testicles from castrated lambs |
| Mr Whippy | Van that sells soft icecream in cones |
| Nana | Grandmother |
| Nappy | Diaper |
| Nick | Steal |
| No flies on me! | I'm not gullible |
| No worries | No problem |
| OE | Overseas Experience/Extended Working Holiday |
| Pakeha | Maori word for person of European descent |
| Pain in the arse | Annoying/Nuisance |
| Panelbeater | Automobile body repair shop |
| Pavlova | Meringue dessert served with cream and fresh fruit |
| Petrol/service station | Gas station |
| Pictures | Movies/cinema |
| Pikelet | Small pancake |
| Pinch | Steal |
| Plaster | Bandaid |
| Plonk | Cheap wine |
| Pom | Englishman |
| Pozzie | Place/position |
| Pram/pushchair | Stroller/baby carriage |
| Pull your finger out! | Hurry up! |
| Rat-bag | Scallywag, scamp, rascal |
| Rellies | Relatives |
| Rice bubbles | Rice cereal |
| Ring "I'll give you a ring" | Call on the telephone |
| Ropeable | Extremely angry |
| Roundabout | Circular traffic intersection |
| Rubber | Eraser or condom |
| Sammies | Sandwiches |
| Sandshoes | Sneakers/sports shoes |
| Scungy | Run down/worn out/dirty |
| Sheila/Chick | Woman |
| Singlet | Sleeveless under shirt |
| Skivvy | Long sleeved t-shirt with turtleneck |
| Slikkapad | Flat plastic container filled with frozen water for chilly bin |
| Smoko | Short break |
| Snags | Sausages |
| Stuffed | Exhausted |
| Sussed "Have you got it sussed?" | Understood |
| Sweet as | Everything is OK, no problem |
| Swot | Study |
| Togs | Swimming costume |
| Ta | Thank you |
| Tata | Goodbye |
| Tea | Dinner or a hot drink |
| Telly | TV/television |
| Tiki | Maori figurine |
| Tin arse/tinny | Lucky |
| Tinfoil | Aluminium foil |
| Toe rag | Cheeky, misbehaving child, a jerk or loser |
| Tomato sauce | Ketchup |
| Torch | Flashlight |
| Tucker | Food |
| Turps "On the turps" | Drinking alcohol |
| Twink | White out/tipex |
| Varsity | University |
| Verge | Grass strip at side of road |
| Wops "Out in the wops" | Remote, rural areas |
