New Zealand words
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of words used in New Zealand English
, both shared with Australian English
and unique to New Zealand English.
1) A: "We beat them 48-3."
B: "Sweet-as!"
2) A: "Can you get this finished off for me?"
B: "Yeah mate, sweet-as."
New Zealand English
New Zealand English is the dialect of the English language used in New Zealand.The English language was established in New Zealand by colonists during the 19th century. It is one of "the newest native-speaker variet[ies] of the English language in existence, a variety which has developed and...
, both shared with Australian English
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
and unique to New Zealand English.
Unique to New Zealand
| Word/Phrase | Pronunciation | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| as | used to intensify the preceding adjective, e.g. "hungry as", "sweet as", "bad as", "good as". An incomplete comparison (e.g., hungry as a hippo, sweet as a sugar, good as gold, etc.) used alone as an adverb to strengthen an adjective. | |
| au | oʊ | from the Māori Maori language Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand... word aua meaning "I don't know". Common in Northland, Gisborne Gisborne, New Zealand -Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped... , and central North Island. |
| Bach Bach (New Zealand) A bach is a small, often very modest holiday home or beach house. Alternatively called a crib, they are an iconic part of New Zealand history and culture, especially in the middle of the 20th century, where they symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle that was becoming more accessible to the... |
bætʃ | a small holiday home, usually near the beach, often with only one or two rooms and of simple construction. Comes from bachelor. (See also 'crib', below). |
| bei | a mutation of the common slang word "Bro". Mostly used in and around Gisborne Gisborne, New Zealand -Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped... . Commonly combined with the slang "eta" to form "eta bei" and pronounced as one word. |
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| a box of birds | I am fine, used as a response to the question "how are you?" A common follow-up is all shit and feathers. This term would not be recognised by anyone below ~40 (See also 'a box of fluffies', below.) | |
| a box of fluffies | a variant of "a box of birds", shortened from "a box of fluffy ducks". | |
| Boat Person | A (usually) light hearted Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... term to describe a person from the South Island South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean... who moves to the North Island North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island... however it can also apply vice versa. due to the Interislander Interislander The Interislander is a road and rail ferry service across New Zealand's Cook Strait, owned and operated by state-owned rail operator KiwiRail.The Interislander travels between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island, forming a road and rail link between New Zealand's two main... Ferry link between both islands |
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| boy racer Boy racer Boy racers refer to people, usually males in their late teens or early twenties, who "cruise" around in vehicles modified with loud exhausts and stereos, or modified body kits. This behavior is frowned upon by members of the public irritated by the noise and the criminal behavior associated with... |
Young delinquent or street racer. Sometimes referred to as a hoon, though this term is uncommon. | |
| bogan Bogan The term bogan is Australian slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for an individual who is recognised to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background.... |
A Person typically aged between 15 and 40 whose attire are black jeans, black-ribbed jersey a t-shirt sporting a 60s-70s-80s hard rock/metal band, and indulges in excessive alcohol intake. Their hair style usually consists of messy long hair or a mullet Mullet - Fish :* Mullet , or "grey mullets", of the family Mugilidae, of which the most widely known species is the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus* Goatfish, or "red mullets", of the family Mullidae; in particular, red mullets of the genus Mullus... and they are usually unshaven. They use unique slang within their subculture and often drive a beat-up holden Holden GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931... vehicle which is near, at, or past its use by date in terms of road-worthiness. Often seen in places like Hamilton Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland... , Upper Hutt Upper Hutt Upper Hutt is a satellite city of Wellington. It is New Zealand's smallest city by population, the second largest by land area. It is in Greater Wellington.-Geography:Upper Hutt is 30 km north-east of Wellington... or Waitakere Waitakere Waitakere City was the name of a city which existed from 1989 until 2010 in the Auckland region. It was New Zealand's fifth largest city, with an annual growth of about 2%... |
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| Chch | tʃ.tʃ | Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... , the country's second-largest city |
| cheerios | small saveloy cocktail sausages. Mandatory finger food for gatherings, particularly children's parties. Served with tomato sauce. | |
| chilly bin | An Esky Esky Esky is an Australian brand of coolers. Outdoor recreation company Coleman Australia bought the Esky brand from Nylex Ltd after the Company went into administration in February 2009.The name is a reference to the association of Eskimos with cold climates.... or other portable polystyrene/plastic food and beverage cooler Cooler A cooler, cool box, portable ice chest, chilly bin , or esky most commonly is an insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. Ice cubes are most commonly placed in it to help the things inside stay cool... . |
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| chocka / chocka block | Full, overflowing. Usage - "My Christmas stocking was chocka this year" | |
| chop | tʃop | A slang used to indicate when a person has been owned or shown. Commonly used in and around Ngaruawahia Ngaruawahia Ngāruawāhia is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 km north-west of Hamilton at the confluence of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers... |
| chur bro | Slang, humorous 'pronounced as a deep 'chair' usually a strong voicing of thanks but also a parting salutation. Shortened from "cheers brother" although can be said to either male or female. More recently this can and has often been shortened to "chur bo", as "bro" loses its 'r'. | |
| couldn't be | . Short for couldn't be bothered. Also, "oh I couldn't be chuffed" similar to "couldn't be fucked/bothered" | |
| cool friends | , very sarcastic. "Cool friends broke Daryl's phone" | |
| crayfish | Rock lobster fished in NZ waters. It has no pincers/claws like those found in UK/American waters- instead having large spiny antennae at the end of both front appendages. | |
| crib | another word for bach, more commonly used in the south of the South Island South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean... . |
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| cunt | Rather than an insult or a swear word the word 'cunt' in New Zealand generally describes a person in general often with a prefix, for example "he's a mad cunt" or "those cunts deserve a medal". Can also be a positive thing, for example "he's a good cunt" | |
| cuz | as in male or female cousin, plural form "cuzzies", and sometimes "the cuzzie bros". | |
| Dag Dags (subculture) Dag is an Australian and New Zealand slang term. In Australia, it is often used as an affectionate insult for someone who is, or is perceived to be, unfashionable, lacking self consciousness about their appearance and/or with poor social skills yet affable and amusing... (g) |
similar to a "hard-case" i.e. a comedian or funny person. Commonly used in the phrase: "What a dag!". NZ comedian John Clarke's John Clarke (satirist) John Morrison Clarke is a New Zealand-born Australian comedian, writer, and satirist. He was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and has lived in Australia since the late 1970s... stage name Fred Dagg Fred Dagg Fred Dagg is a fictional archetype satirist from New Zealand created and acted on stage, film and television by satirist John Clarke. Clarke graced New Zealand TV screens as Dagg during the mid to late 1970s, "taking the piss" out of the post-pioneering Kiwi bloke and ‘blokesses’.When Clarke first... was influenced by this. |
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| dairy Milk bar Milk bar is a term in some parts of Australia for suburban local shops or general stores. They are known as tuck shops, delicatessens or delis in South Australia and Western Australia, and as corner stores in Queensland and New South Wales... |
equivalent to the British term corner shop or American term convenience store. | |
| The Ditch | slang the Tasman Sea Tasman Sea The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European... , the "ditch" separating New Zealand and Australia, almost always used in the phrase: "across the ditch", meaning, Australia. Occasionally also refers to Cook Strait Cook Strait Cook Strait is the strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the west with the South Pacific Ocean on the east.... , which separates the two main islands of the country. |
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| domain | as well as its common overseas uses, a public park or reserve, often with sports or camping facilities. Derived from the British legal "land in public domain" or government owned land for public use | |
| egg | mild insult meaning 'fool' or 'dork'. Enjoyed widespread use in the 1980s, still used today. Used to be used occasionally with the partner (and now all but obsolete) "spoon". | |
| eh! Eh Eh is a spoken interjection in English, Armenian, Japanese, French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan that is similar in meaning to "Excuse me," "Please repeat that" or "huh?" It is also commonly used as a method for inciting an answer, as in "It's nice here, eh?" It is occasionally... |
Slang used for emphasis at the end of a sentence, eh!. Can be used as meaning "isn't it". (A similar but not identical usage is found in Canadian English Canadian English Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language... ). See Eh Eh Eh is a spoken interjection in English, Armenian, Japanese, French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan that is similar in meaning to "Excuse me," "Please repeat that" or "huh?" It is also commonly used as a method for inciting an answer, as in "It's nice here, eh?" It is occasionally... . Probably derived from the Maori word 'nei?' which means 'isn't that right?' More recently spelt "ay" or "aye", which is a closer phonetic spelling in the NZ accent. |
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| eoh; eoa; aoh; | (no agreed spelling, conversational only) derived from the Maori "e hoa" (friend). Used as a friendly term meaning "mate" in the NZEng equivalent, or bro; also used as "hey" or "yo" in place of subject's name if at the beginning of a phrase. Non-gender specific, and pronounced like a very short, clipped "our" perhaps without the final 'r', or like out without the 't'. Was common in Auckland but was popularised by the television show 'bro'Town', where it is both pronounced and written as 'ow'. "Eoh, you coming or not?"; "Where you been eoh?". | |
| Et/Eta/Eta Harry | pronounced "Etta". Common in Gisborne Gisborne, New Zealand -Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped... , exclamation similar to "whatever" also used as an expression of surprise and mild consternation much like 'oh no!' Often used to express the sentiment "that is not true". Probably derived from the Maori 'e Ta!' (='oh Sir!') or 'e tama!' (='oh child!' which is a mild scolding). |
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| freezing works | a meat-packing plant, an abattoir. | |
| flag | slang to no do/want. Meaning "I can't be bothered", or "I don't think it's worth doing.", e.g., A: "Do you wanna go for a walk?" B: "Nah, flag." Or: A: "Should I mow the lawns?" B: "Nah, flag it." Also can be used in place of the word "bothered", e.g., "I can't be flagged." | |
| fulla | slang guy, from 'fellow'. | |
| green fingered bro | slang for someone who regularly smokes cannabis Cannabis Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a... ; usually referring to a person from Kaitaia Kaitaia Kaitaia is a town in the far north region of New Zealand, at the base of the Aupouri Peninsula which is about 160 km northwest of Whangarei. It is the last major settlement on the main road north to the capes and bays on the peninsula... . |
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| GC | "informal" meaning good cunt. It is a very possitive complement. | |
| Glad Wrap | cling film/plastic wrap. Brand name that has become a generic reference | |
| Godzone | informal New Zealand: corruption from 'God's Own Country'. Can also refer to Australia. | |
| Gumboots | or Gummies. Waterproof rubber boots, known in other countries as Wellington boots. | |
| halfpai | slang meaning half-arsed e.g. "doing a halfpai job at doing the dishes"; actual meaning: half-good from the Maori word pai = good. | |
| hamu | (pron. ha-moo) – a Maori Maori language Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand... verb or noun meaning to scavenge or scrounge. Also someone who hogs the ball in a sport- "Hurry up and pass the ball you hamu!" |
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| hard case | slang a person who has a very good sense of humour, a comedian. | |
| hau | expression: 'wow'; often pronounced with a long drawn-out tail "hauuuuuu"; Maori origins, sometimes transmuted into hau-ly (holy), to punctuate the expression. | |
| Hayum | "slang greetng": pronounced "Hay-om; variation of "How ya going?" | |
| Hori | a Maori transliteration of ‘George’, is a New Zealand colloquialism and is often used as a derogatory term for Maori people. | |
| Hua | expression: pronounced whoo-a; however not drawn-out. Originates from the Scottish pronunciation of whore, used in conversation in a tongue in cheek manner, such as 'You dirty hua'; 'you little hua'. Maori for the part of a paua you don't eat as it contains excrement. | |
| huckery | a descriptive term for something that is defective or badly done. | |
| hutt slut | a derogratory term for young woman aged between 15 and 30 who hails from the Hutt Valley who dresses in scantly-clad revealing outfits and drunkenly 'picks up' much older men for a one night stand One Night Stand One Night Stand is an HBO stand-up series that first aired on February 15, 1989. The half-hour series aired weekly and featured stand-up comedy specials from some of the top performing comedians. The series originally comprised 55 specials over the course of its four years on HBO... . Slang commonly used by people living in central Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... and/or "ex-pat" Hutt people living in Wellington City. |
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| ice-block | any ice-cream or ice-lolly/ popsicle on a stick. Ice cream is used to refer to scooped ice-cream or ice-cream served in a cone only. | |
| JAFA Jafa Jafa is a slang term for a resident of Auckland, New Zealand. It is the acronym for Just Another Fucking Aucklander or used as a insult to Aucklanders... |
a derogatory acronym used to describe Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... ers. This stands for Just Another Fucking Aucklander. Aucklanders refer to it as Just Another Fantastic Aucklander. This acronym has particular sentimental significance to NZers, being the name of an iconic cinema sweet (called Jaffas Jaffas (candy) Jaffas is the registered trademark for a small round sweet consisting of a soft chocolate centre with a hard covering of orange flavoured, red coloured confectionery. The name derives from the Jaffa orange. The sweet is part of Australian and New Zealand cultural folklore... ), which consist of a spherical marble sized shell of orange/red candy filled with chocolate. This explains the superfluous 'F' in some versions of the acronym. |
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| Jandals | slang as in US and UK "flip-flops", Australia "thongs". Portmanteau of Japanese Sandal. See Jandals. | |
| Joker | bloke, guy, fulla, usually a general term for Kiwi male, with positive connotations. Sometimes a "good joker" or "funny joker", rarely used in derogation. Although about two generations old from the time of entry, it is still recognised and understood. | |
| Judder bar | A speed bump Speed bump A speed bump is a speed-reducing feature of road design to slow traffic or reduce through traffic, via... - a raised bar across a road designed to slow traffic. |
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| jug | electric kettle | |
| Kai | Maori - food | |
| Kapai | "Good" or "nice". Maori for that's good. Has entered the lexicon of non-Maori speakers. | |
| Kina | New Zealand sea urchin, Evechinus chloroticus | |
| koin | meaning keen, or down... e.g. that's koin, that's koin. | |
| lollies | sweets / candy. | |
| Mainland South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean... |
informal usually, but not always, refers (sometimes mildly humorously) to the South Island, which, despite its much smaller population, is the larger of the two main islands of New Zealand. | |
| Manus | A derogatory term meaning idiot or imbecile. Pronounced 'Mah – niss'. Derived from 'male' 'anus'. Common in West Auckland. | |
| Marge | margarine. Used to refer to any butter-substitute spread. | |
| Māori fireworks | derogatory - To scratch the flint off a lighter, put the dust in your fingers and light it. | |
| Māori overdrive | derogatory - Coasting down a hill in a car with the engine turned off and the transmission in neutral. | |
| Māori shower | derogatory - The use of deodorant rather than bathing. | |
| Mean | - Cool, good, normally used with -as at the end 'Your new car's mean bro'. |
- Munta - Good person, 'Johnno ya munta'. Affectionate term. Derived from Munted. Used mostly by Westies. Also 'munter'. Can be used in a derogatory fashion, 'what a pack of drunk munters'.
- Munted - Broken, stuffed, destroyed, 'The main sewer [lines] are seriously munted.' (Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker after the 4 September 2010 earthquake).
- Muppet - A Mild insult to describe a stupid, incompetent or otherwise foolish person
- OEOverseas experienceOverseas experience is a New Zealand term for an extended overseas working holiday. Sometimes referred to as "The big OE" in reference to the extended duration of the travel - typically at least one year, and often extending far longer...
or Big OEOverseas experienceOverseas experience is a New Zealand term for an extended overseas working holiday. Sometimes referred to as "The big OE" in reference to the extended duration of the travel - typically at least one year, and often extending far longer...
– informal overseas experienceOverseas experienceOverseas experience is a New Zealand term for an extended overseas working holiday. Sometimes referred to as "The big OE" in reference to the extended duration of the travel - typically at least one year, and often extending far longer...
, time spent travelling and working overseas, often beginning in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. - OTP, On the piss - Common term for drinking alcohol in large quantities to get drunk, 'Keen to get OTP tonight?'.
- P – a recently adopted term for Crystallised Methamphetamine. "P" stands for "pure", which it was also called. During the mid-2000s, the New Zealand Media popularised this term for the illegal drug, and other terms are all but unused.
- Pakaru – defective, broken down, not functioning at all. Maori for broken. Sometimes is anglicized to 'pakarued', patu or similar. For example, "My car's pakarued!"
- pauaPauaPāua is the Māori name given to three species of large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs which belong to the family Haliotidae , known in the United States and Australia as abalone, and in the United Kingdom as ormer shells.-Species:There are three species of New Zealand pāua:New...
– abalone - Pottle – in some areas, the unit by which strawberriesStrawberryFragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
and certain other fruit are sold. In other parts of New Zealand, the terms "chip" and "punnet", shared with UK English, are better known. The term also refers to any small plastic container, as e.g. for yoghurt. - pull one – "slang". To leave. To pull a cruiser/an exit.
- pulling them – "slang" Joking/kidding. Short for "Oh I was just pulling ya tits!".
- Queen StreetQueen Street, AucklandQueen Street is the major commercial thoroughfare in the Auckland CBD, Auckland, New Zealand's main population centre. It starts at Queens Wharf on the Auckland waterfront, adjacent to the Britomart Transport Centre and the Downtown Ferry Terminal, and runs uphill for almost three kilometres in a...
farmer – informal humorous a usually pejorative term for an investor in rural land with no knowledge of land use. - Rej – pronounced "reedge". Abbr. of "reject" or "retard", a schoolyard insult and a insult via txt.
- RemueraRemueraRemuera is a residential suburban area within Auckland city, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the southeast of the city centre...
tractor/FendaltonFendaltonFendalton is a suburb of Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand.-History:Fendalton was originally known at Fendall Town, named after the original settler of the land, Walpole Cheshire Fendall . Fendall emigrated from Yorkshire in 1850 and took up land north of the Waimairi Stream...
tractor – slang humorous a usually pejorative term for an SUVSport utility vehicleA sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
(known as a "four wheel drive" locally) (compare Queen Street farmer, above). See Toorak Tractor or Chelsea Tractor. - RogernomicsRogernomicsThe term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of "Roger" and "economics", was coined by journalists at the New Zealand Listener by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by Roger Douglas after his appointment in 1984 as Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government...
– a political term applied to 'economic reforms' of the 1980s, and continuing worldwide today. These involved turning public assets and property over to private interest; selling government land and companies for short-term , one-off profit. Named in honour of its spearheading MP, Sir Roger DouglasRoger DouglasSir Roger Owen Douglas , is a New Zealand politician who formerly served as a senior New Zealand Labour Party Cabinet minister. He became arguably best-known for his prominent role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the Fourth Labour Government during the 1980s...
. - rolls/rollies – rolling tobacco (see tayllies)
- ropeable - angry, in a bad mood. Usage - "Why are you so ropeable this morning?".
- Sainos - Used instead of Sainsburys.
- scarfie – slang a university student at the University of OtagoUniversity of OtagoThe University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. - sewl – slang, farewell/good-bye corruption of "see you all later" pronounced similar to "seal" (an extremely fast and slurred "see-you-all" ending in mumbled 'l' sound)
- shoot through/ shoot the gap - leave. Usage - "Thanks for lunch, I've gotta shoot through now".
- Shore Girl Shore Thing - Relates to females from the North Shore (Auckland) that are 'easy'
- Shot – slang said instead of thanks or cheers, commonly as "Shot bro" or "Shot g". Also alternatives for "well done" or "impressive", both in the sarcastic (mumbled) and non-sarcastic (loud) form.
- shraps – slang, coins/loose change – derived from shrapnel which may also be used.
- skite - to boast or brag/ or a person that boasts/brags. Usage - "I came 3rd in the competition yesterday, but it's nothing to skite about". "Your mate Bob is such a skite".
- Skivvy - a roll-neck long sleeve cotton garment
- Slap second - To do a burnout, objective to be able to get it into second gear when doing a burnout 'Steve slapped second in his Skyline'.
- sookie bubba noun (sometimes spelt 'sooky baba' or variants) – NZ version of crybaby, wimp, tangiweto (maori). Extension of 'sook' as used elsewhere.
- snags – sausages, bratwurst.
- snarlers – sausages, bratwurst.
- squiz - a quick look. Usage - "Have a squiz at this photo"
- "'Stink'" - Shit, bad, rubbish. Can be used as an exclamation "Stink!" or as an adjective. "Her cooking is stink."
- stoaked/stoked - chuffed or delighted. Usage - "I got 3 A's in my exam results today - I was stoked"
- stores – slang, groceries (mainly used in GisborneGisborne, New Zealand-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
). - strop – slang, to masturbate, or "Stropper" derogatory name for someone. See "Wanker"
- stroppy - slang, an unpleasant, grumpy or disagreeable person. "Geez he's a stroppy bastard".
- stubbie – slang bottle of beer.
- Stubbies – brand name that is a generic term for short shorts worn in the 1970s as was the fashion of the time.
- sweet-as colloquialism- all-purpose phrase meaning "great" or "awesome". Also equally used as an equivalent to "no problems" or "fine", for example:
1) A: "We beat them 48-3."
B: "Sweet-as!"
2) A: "Can you get this finished off for me?"
B: "Yeah mate, sweet-as."
- tailies – cigarettes; shortened from tailor-made cigarettes.
- take one – "slang". To urinate. Usually on something, e.g.: "I need to take one on Matthews" or "I just took one on that fence"
- tin – slang Corrugated roofing iron, an icon of New Zealand architecture and widely used in old and new houses.
- tinnie – slang One gram of marijuana wrapped up in aluminium foil sold for between NZ$20-NZ$25 Depending on the dealer and quality
- tinnie house – slang A Suburban house where marijuana (and usually other drugs) are sold
- Togs – SwimsuitSwimsuitA swimsuit, bathing suit, or swimming costume is an item of clothing designed to be worn by men, women or children while they are engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, water polo, diving, surfing, water skiing, or during activities in the sun, such as sun bathing.A...
- Too Much – Good, Great, very pleased.
- Tramping – NZ specific term for "hiking".
- Trots – Harness racingHarness racingHarness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
, or DiarrheaDiarrheaDiarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
. - TwinkTwinkTwink may refer to:* Chaffinch, a small bird in the finch family* Twink , a term for young or young-looking gay or bisexual men* Twink, a character from the Nintendo 64 game Paper Mario* Twinking, a role-playing game behavior, esp...
– A popular brand of correction fluidCorrection fluidA correction fluid is an opaque, white fluid applied to paper to mask errors in text. Once dried, it can be written over. It is typically packaged in small bottles, and the lid has an attached brush which dips into the bottle...
that has become a generic term. - Tumeke – Maori word denoting (positive) surprise: 'Awesome'. Often mistakenly considered to mean 'too much'.
- Tumeke Skux - translates to "too much skux" meaning a male who dresses well and has a stylish haircut.
- up the Puhoi or Boohai – slang far from civilisation. The PuhoiPuhoiPuhoi is a settlement located approximately 50 km north of Auckland, New Zealand. Puhoi is probably a Maori word which may be translated as "Slow water"....
river is 50 km north of Auckland. Over the years the phrase has evolved from "up the Boohai shooting pukeko with a long-handled shovel": said in response to "Where are you going?", and meaning either "Mind your own business" or "I'm just wandering around". It is also sometimes attributed to other New Zealand rivers. - Ute - short for utility vehicle. However NZer's are actually referring to a pick-up truck when they use "ute".
- Varsity - university.
- Vivid - A popular brand of permanent marker that has become a generic term.
- Waka – MaoriMaori languageMāori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
term for any kind of vehicle or means of transport, from wakaWaka (canoe)Waka are Māori watercraft, usually canoes ranging in size from small, unornamented canoes used for fishing and river travel, to large decorated war canoes up to long...
used for a canoe or watercraft. - Waka-jumpingWaka-jumpingNew Zealanders speak colloquially of waka-jumping when elected politicians switch political parties between elections .The advent of MMP in New Zealand parliamentary politics in the 1990s — culminating in the use of...
– the act of switching sides or allegiances. Used in particular to describe the act of MPs changing political parties after being elected in New Zealand's MMPMixed member proportional representationMixed-member proportional representation, also termed mixed-member proportional voting and commonly abbreviated to MMP, is a voting system originally used to elect representatives to the German Bundestag, and nowadays adopted by numerous legislatures around the world...
democracy. - Warewhare – pronounced wa-ray-fa-ray, nickname for the Warehouse stores, a local department store chain. ("Whare" is the Maori word for house). Warehouse outlets or the company itself are also sometimes informally referred to as "The Big Red Shed".
- Wai Wai Express – pronounced why-why, means to walk somewhere. "How are you going to get there?" "wai wai express bro."
- Wagging – slang North IslandNorth IslandThe North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
term for 'bunking off' or truancyTruancyTruancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
. - WestieWesties (people)Westie, or Westy, is a colloquial term used in Australian and New Zealand English to stereotypically describe residents of the Greater Western Sydney, the western suburbs of Melbourne and Brisbane or the West Auckland city of Waitakere . It may also refer as a derogatory term to people who might...
– a sometimes derogatory term which refers to an inhabitant of West AucklandWaitakereWaitakere City was the name of a city which existed from 1989 until 2010 in the Auckland region. It was New Zealand's fifth largest city, with an annual growth of about 2%...
, usually Caucasian. It is also used by people from West AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
instead of "Bogan" for people who may not even reside there. Has some similar sentiment to the term "white-trash" which is common in the U.S. Westies may be identified by their affinity for black clothing(including tight jeans), Heavy Metal music, 'muscle cars' and aggressive dog breeds. The popular NZ television show Outrageous FortuneOutrageous Fortune (TV series)Outrageous Fortune was a New Zealand comedy/drama television series, which was created by James Griffin and Rachel Lang and was produced by South Pacific Pictures...
follows the misadventures of a stereotypical Westie family. - West Island – A name used occasionally for Australia. The main islands of New Zealand are the North Island and the South Island, and "West Island" is used to refer jokingly to the Australian continent (which lies to the west of New Zealand), due both to the large NZ population there and for the implication that New Zealand is the more important country.
- WOF/Warrant – (Warrant of Fitness), vehicle road worthiness test, similar to British MoT and the Australian Roadworthy Certificate, except that it is required 6-monthly for vehicles over five years old (yearly for those under). Often pronounced 'waf' (as in waffleWaffleA waffle is a batter- or dough-based cake cooked in a waffle iron patterned to give a distinctive and characteristic shape. There are many variations based on the type and shape of the iron and the recipe used....
). - Wops/Wopwops – slang rural areas or towns/localities on the fringes of larger towns/cities. ("Wop Wops" or "The Wop Wops" are also used but less commonly.)
- Yeah nah - A phrase common to most of New Zealand. "Yeah nah mate" Meaning- "I'm not really sure thats right" or "I don't really agree with that"
- Yonks - taking a long time. Usage - "Getting to work today took yonks".
Shared with Australia or other countries
- BoganBoganThe term bogan is Australian slang, usually pejorative or self-deprecating, for an individual who is recognised to be from a lower class background or someone whose limited education, speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour exemplifies such a background....
– a derogatory term describing a person (usually caucasian) who is perceived to be uncultured, uneducated, and/or of a lower class background. (See also 'Westie', below. Equivalent of 'Hillbilly') However, 'bogan' is also a positive term for a fan of heavy metal music that looks the part, regardless of their background. - (bring a) platePotluckA potluck is a gathering of people where each person or group of people contributes a dish of food prepared by the person or the group of people, to be shared among the group...
– informal on invitations to social functions it constitutes a request that people attending should arrive with a plate-full of food, because catering is not provided. Many new arrivals in New Zealand have mistaken this and turned up with an empty plate, but only once. Perhaps used more by the older generation. Shared with Australia. - bunk /bunking – South IslandSouth IslandThe South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
term for bunking off or wagging( truancyTruancyTruancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
). - by Jingoes/Jingles/Crikey – used also as a replacement for swearing, especially when annoyed.
- chipsFrench friesFrench fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
and chippies, – refer to both (UK) chips and (US) French Fries. In NZ, chippies are equivalent to UK potato crisps. - choice! – informal excellent! Great idea!
- chunder, slang – vomit, from "Watch out under".
- chunder mile – a once popular sporting event, particularly at universities, in which participants would run a lap of a running track, eat a cold pie, scull a jug of beer, and continue until the above 'chunder' would occur. Now largely banned by the university authorities.
- Claytons, slang adj. – low-quality imitation, not the real thing. Originated in Australia. For example, a hasty, temporary repair may be only a Claytons solution to a problem. Originally from the brand-name of a non-alcoholic whisky-flavoured beverage. Generally used by the older generation. See ClaytonsClaytonsClaytons is the brand name of a non-alcoholic, non-carbonated beverage coloured and packaged to resemble bottled whisky. It was the subject of a major marketing campaign in Australia and New Zealand in the 1970s and 1980s, promoting it as "the drink you have when you're not having a drink" at a...
. - crook – slang for sick or ill; as in "feeling crook".
- DunnyDunnyDunny or dunny can is Australian slang for toilet, either the room or the specific fixture, especially an outhouse or other outdoor toilets. It is often used to specify a distinction between a flushing toilet and a non-flushing toilet...
– slang for toilet. - FootyFootyFooty or footie may refer to:* Some forms of football:** Association football** Rugby league football*** The Footy Show *** Mini footy** Australian rules football*** Rec footy*** 9-a-side footy*** The Footy Show ...
, slang – football (usually Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, rarely LeagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
or soccer). - G'day!/ Gidday!, interj. – A friendly, informal greeting, as in Australian English (From "good day") Examples, Gidday mate. Mostly used by the older generation.
- "good as gold" – Great, fine – as a form of agreement.
- growl/growling/growled – telling off.
- Howzit – A bastardized version of "How is it going?". It's etymology traces back to it's origin in South Africa but it was picked up by New Zealand culture in a big way in the 1990's. It should not be confused with "Howzat" - a victory cheer in a cricket game. It is now a phrase usually only used by aging stoners..
- KiwiKiwi (people)Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
– informal a New ZealanderKiwi (people)Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
, or as an adjective instead of New Zealand. New Zealanders never use Kiwi to refer to kiwifruitKiwifruitThe kiwifruit, often shortened to kiwi in many parts of the world, is the edible berry of a cultivar group of the woody vine Actinidia deliciosa and hybrids between this and other species in the genus Actinidia....
. Used in foreign exchange circles to refer to the New Zealand dollar. - longdrop – informal as in US "outhouse" or "portapotty"
- lolly – any of various sweets (pieces of candy). Iced lollies are called "ice blocks".
- manchester – household linen.
- pom, n. – British person, usually English. Possibly from Prisoner Of (Her) Majesty. See Alternative words for BritishAlternative words for BritishAlternative names for the British include nicknames and terms, including affectionate ones, neutral ones, and derogatory ones to describe the British people and more specifically English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish/Irish people.- Ang Moh :"Ang Moh" is a term to describe British and other...
. - ockerOckerThe term "ocker" is used both as a noun and adjective for an Australian who speaks and acts in an uncultured manner, using a broad Australian accent...
– slang for a person from Australia. - pav - slang for pavlovaPavlova- Persons :* Anna Pavlova * Anna Pavlova * Alla Pavlova * Karolina Pavlova * Anelia Pavlova * The feminine form of Pavlov, a common Russian and Bulgarian family name- Other :...
classic dessert. - the rentals – used more recently as a replacement for parents. From the word parentals.
- scabScabScab can refer to the following:* Scab, a hard coating on the skin formed during the wound healing reconstruction phase* Derogatory term for a strikebreaker, a person who works despite strike action or against the will of other employees...
– verb and noun, meaning the act of (or someone) scrounging, asking for food or money. - shake a leg – hurry up.
- your shoutRound of drinksA round of drinks is a set of alcoholic beverages purchased by one person in a group for that complete group. The purchaser buys the round of drinks as a single order at the bar. In many places it is customary for people to take turns buying rounds....
– your turn to buy – usually the next round of alcoholic drinks. - smokoSmoko"Smoko" is a term used in Australian English, New Zealand English and Falkland Islands English for a short, often informal, cigarette break taken during work or military duty, although the term can also be used to describe any short break such as a rest or a coffee/tea break...
– rest break during work, originating in the days when smoking was a common practice and would take place during such breaks. Pronounced "smoke-o". - super, – the old age pension scheme. Contraction of "superannuation".
- sweet as/sweet, adj. – fine as far as I'm concerned. The use of 'as' as an intensifier for adjectives has spread, for example 'It's cold as outside', or 'This summer has been hot as'. 'Sweet as' was, until recently with the exporting of NZ television and humour, unique to NZ.
- taTaTa may refer to:* Tāʾ, the sixteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet* Ta , the た or タ kana in the Japanese language* Tạ, a Vietnamese surname* Ta River, a river in Virginia, USA...
– short form for thanks. - TazzyTasman SeaThe Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
– A name used for the Tasman sea or for the island Tasmania. - tinny (also spelled 'tinnie') – 1. slang a tinfoil wrap containing marijuana, sold at a "tinny house". 2. older meaning 'lucky', as in 'tinny bastard', or 'tin-arse'. 3. slang a can of beer. 4. slang a small aluminium-hulled boat, usually unpowered.
- Tin-arse – used to refer to a lucky person, usually if they win something.
- togsTOGsTerry's Old Geezers/Gals/Gits were people who listened to the Wake Up to Wogan show on BBC Radio 2 until it ended in December 2009. They often take on pseudonyms, as did the newsreaders, prior to February 2007...
– bathing suit; swimming costume. Non-gender specific, can apply to speedos, swimming shorts, bikini, or any swimming clothing. - wag, slang v. – To play truant, as in Tom's wagging school today.
- wog disease or illness.