In New Zealand, people speak English. Well, mainly… Like every country, it’s developed a few words that aren’t used anywhere else. A bit of Maori (native New Zealanders), a bit of Australian expressions, and a big influence from the UK gives New Zealand a very rich vocabulary.
Nothing to be afraid of; we just thought you should know that “togs” is a swimsuit and that “sweet as” means cool. To immerse even faster in this English environment or just refresh your vocabulary, get together with other travellers in your hostel or during you Arrival Pack orientation.
New Zealand slang
A
ANZACAustralia New Zealand Army Corps during WWI. ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance of them.
Aotearoamost widely known and accepted Maori name for New Zealand, translated as “Land of the Long White Cloud”
Aroha for love
AussieAustralian
B
Barbiebarbeque
Bangerssausages
Bickiesbiscuits
Blokea man
Blow me downan expression of surprise
Bootcar trunk
Brekkiebreakfast
Britperson from Britain
Brofriend, brother
Bubblysparkling wine
Buggerdisappointed
Bushsmall forest, native trees
B.Y.O.certain license given to restaurants which allow customers to bring their own alcoholic beverage
C
Cartonbox
Chickfemale
Chipscrips or deep fried potato slices, thicker than French fry
Choice!Excellent!
ChurThank you, cheers
Collegehigh school
Come again?please repeat what you said more clearly
Courgettezucchini
Crayfishedible saltwater spiny lobster
Cuzfriend, cousin
D E F
Dairycorner store
Dearexpensive
Ehused at the end of a sentence when expecting a response; pronounces “A?”
Fancysomething attractive
Feedmeal
Fizzy drinksoda
Flickmovie
Flatan apartment, so “Flat mates” are the people who live together in a flat or house
Footyrugby, not the Australian footy.
G
Giddayhello
Gumbootrubber boots
Give it awayto abandon something
Give it heapstry your best
Going nutsgoing insane or angry
Good on youexpression of approval, friendly approval of somebodys actions
Good as goldaffirmative answer, aproval of quality
Greasesfish and chips, popular takeaway meal in New Zealand
GuttedVery disappointed
H
Haere maiMaori for Welcome
Hakatraditional Maori dance
Hand bagpurse
Handlepint of beer
Hangitraditional Maori meal prepared in an underground oven
Hard caseGood sense of humour
Heapsa lot, “There are a lot of boats in the harbour – There are heaps of boats in the harbour”
Hirerent
Hokey pokeyvery popular type of ice cream flavour in New Zealand
How it going matea common greeting
I J
Ice blockice pop
Jandalflip flop, thong
Jarglass of beer
Jugkettle
Jerseysweater
Jumperwoollen sweat
K
Kaifood (Maori origin)
Ka paigood job (Maori origin)
Kia Orahello (Maori origin)
Kiwi birdflightless bird native to New Zealand, national symbol of New Zealand
Kiwifruitpopular New Zealand fruit
KiwiNew Zealander
Kindykindergarten
L M N
Liftelevator
Lootoilet
Lollyany sweet or confectionery
Maorinative people to New Zealand
Marmitepopular spread, made from yeast extract
Matecommonly used for friend, but can also be used for a stranger
Meangood, “That’s a mean car!”
Minceground meat
MuntedMunted: Wrecked, ruined
Nanagrandmother
Nappydiaper
No worriesno problem
Notemonetary bill
Nicksteal, “He nicked my shoes!”
O P
OzAustralia
Pauaabalone, popular and highly expensive eatable shell
Pavlovameringue tort, covered in cream and fruit, named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova
Petrol fuel for engine, gasoline, benzene, so *Petrol station* is the gas station
Pinkysmall finger
Pissing aroundwasting time
Pisseddrunk
Piss offgo away
Pissed offangry
Post codezip code
Primoexcellent, good, “This ice cream is primo!”
Publocal bar
R
Raining cats and dogsraining heavily
Relliesrelatives
Ring-maketelephone call
Ripped offpaid to much, “You got ripped off on buying this car”
Rubberelastic eraser
Rock meloncantaloupe
S
Shake a legcommand to hurry up
She’ll be righteverything will be fine, “Don’t wary about your broken car, she’ll be right”
Shoutto buy something for everyone
Spannerwrench
Spudpotato
Stuffed upmade a mistake
Stubbysmall bottle of beer
Stuffedtired
Sticky tapecello tape
Sunniessunglasses
Sweet asomething really good
T
Takeawaysfastfood
Taxicab
Tertiary educationeducation above secondary school
Togsswim suit
The StatesU.S.A.
Tiki tourThe senic route
Tin foilaluminum foil
Too muchgreat, very pleased
U V Y Z
Uniuniversity
Valetprofessional car cleaning service
Varsityuniversity
Vegemitepopular spread, made from yeast extract, imported from Australia
Yakgeneral conversation, “We have been yaking on the phone for a while”
Zedcommon pronunciation of letter Z