KIWI Slang

Having lived and worked with Kiwi's for over a year in NZ and then living with 3 Kiwi guys in London I have come to the conclusion that New Zealanders do not speak English.. they speak a mix of English, Australian, American and Maori and call it Kiwi. They use an array of slang words that can be hard to understand when you first arrive, especially if English is not your first language. But no worries, Bro! Once you get the hang of it, it's easy as!

Kiwi - A person from NZ, named after the bird and not the fruit!

Aotearoa - Maori for New Zealand

Bro - Friendly way to end a sentence. 'No Worries Bro'

Not Even, Ow - That didn't happen

Yeah, Nah - When a kiwi isn't keen on doing something/when they are indecisive 'do you want to watch the footy?' 'yeah, nah i'm feeling crook'

Crook - Not feeling well

Footy - Football

Choice - Awesome/cool usually pronounced 'CHOOOICE'

Chur - Cheers

Chocka/Choc-a-block - Full 'do you want another pie?' 'Nah mate, I'm chocka' or 'The bus is chock-a-block today'

Yeiis - Yes

Far out - Cool

Skux - A good-looking/cool fella

Skux deluxe - See skux

Kia Ora - Hello. Pronounced KEE-or-uh

Duries - Cigarettes

Ciggys - Duries

Buggar - A term of disappointment. 'Billy's boat sank' 'Ah Buggar'. Also can be used to describe an old man.

Eh - Don't you think? Can be added to any sentence 'That was a good movie, Eh?'. Pronounced AY

She'll be right - Don't worry, everything will be fine.

The Wops - The Country. "Jono lives out in the Wops'

Suss - Suspicious

Keen - An enthusiastic yes. 'Do you wanna go to the bach this weekend?' 'Keen'

Bach - Holiday home

Dairy - Corner store/shop

Gumboots - Wellington boots/Wellies

Gummies - Gumboots

As - Used as an unfinished simile to create emphasis. Can be added to any adjective

Mean - Cool/awesome/great

Mean As - Really cool/awesome/great

Sweet - Good/Cool

Sweet As - Really Good/Cool

Beached As - Can't move

Tu Meke - Maori word used to describe something epic. Literally means too much 'I scored 3 trys in rugby' 'Ah Tu Meke Bro!'

Yarn - A story. 'Damo's always spinning yarns'

Chilly Bin - Esky or Cooler

No Worries - It's OK/No problem

Heaps - Lots of

All good/All G - Can be used as a question and an answer 'you all good?' 'yeah all g"

Crack up - Something or someone hilarious 'Alex is crack up', 'what a crack up'

Pakaru - Broken or not working. 'The tele's pakaru'

Togs - Swimwear

Kina - Sea Urchin

Stubbies - Short beer bottles or extremely short shorts on men

Bloke - Man

Fella - Bloke. Pronounced Fulla

Bogan - A person who's speech, clothing and behaviors exemplify a lack of manners or education. Look up 'Trent from Punchy' you'll see.

Chippy - Carpenter

Carked it - Died. 'The ute's carked it'

Dunny - Toilet

Long Drop - Toilet usually outdoors

Flat out - Going fast. 'he was going flat out down the highway'

Flog - Steal

Chuddy - Chewing gum

On the piss - Having a sesh/drinking alcohol 'Are we going on the piss tonight?'

On the turps - On the piss

Pissed as a chook - an intoxicated person 'Mary was pissed as a chook last night'

Chook - Chicken

Gutted - Term of disappointment.

Glad wrap - Cling Film

GC - Good C*nt. A sound person. 'Chloe's a GC'

Hangi - Traditional style of Maori cooking

Jandals - Flip Flops

O.E - Oversees experience. A Kiwi gap year.

P - Methamphetamine AKA ice. New Zealand's class A drug of choice.

Ute - Pick up truck

Pretty - Used like quite 'How was last night?' 'Yeah it was pretty good'

Pash - To kiss

Waka - Maori for boat or canoe

Land Waka - A bus

Pom/Pommy - An English person

Pakeha - A white New Zealander

Loose unit - Someone who is unreliable or unpredictable. Commonly used in a playful sense

JAFA - Just Another F*cking Aucklander

Undies - Underwear

Grundies - Dirty underwear

Shame - Used when someone is witnessing or doing something embarrassing, Usually shouted at the person.

Ranga - A red haired person

Tramping - Hiking

Rough as guts - When something is done poorly. 'How did the exam go?' "Rough as guts'

Hunky Dory - Good.

Oh True - Said after being told a fact. 'Aido pashed a hottie last night' 'Oh True!'

Kumara - Sweet potato

Kai - Maori for food