
Here is a list of common kiwi slang you might hear when in New Zealand.
Arvo – afternoon
Bach – pronounced "batch" and means holiday home
Banger – sausage, as in bangers and mash
Barbie – barbecue
Bloke – man
Boy-racer – name given to a young person who drives a fast car or modified sports car
Bring a plate – means bring a dish of food to share
Bugger – damn!
Cardi – cardigan
Cheers – thanks
Chocka – full, overflowing
Chook – chicken
Chips – deep fried slices of potato but much thicker than a french fry
Chippy – builder, carpenter
Crib – holiday home like the word "bach" but in the South Island
Cuppa – cup of tea, as in cuppa tea
Cuz – cousin, family
Dag- used to describe an amusing, quirky and likeable person ("He's a bit of a dag")
Dole – unemployment benefit
Dodgy – bad, unreliable, not good
Dunny – toilet, bathroom, lavatory
Flat – apartment, name for rental accommodation that is shared
Flog – steal, rob
Footie – rugby union or league, as in “going to watch the footie”
G’day – universal kiwi greeting, also spelled gidday
Good on ya, mate! – congratulations, well done, proud of someone
Good as gold – feeling good, not a problem, yes. Can be shortened to "Good As"
Greasies – fish and chips
Gumboots or gummies – rubber boots, wellingtons
Hard case – amusing, funny person
How’s it going mate? – kiwi greeting
Jandal – sandals, flip-flops,
Jumper – sweater, jersey
Kiwi – New Zealander
Kiwi bird- small nocturnal flightless bird
Kiwifruit – Brown furry skinned fruit, Zespri, Chinese Gooseberry
Knackered – exhausted, tired, lethargic
L&P – Fizzy soda drink similar to Sprite or 7up but created and made in NZ
Lift – elevator.
Lolly – candy
Loo – bathroom, toilet
Long drop – outdoor toilet, outhouse
Mate – buddy
Motorway – freeway
Naff off – go away, get lost, leave me alone
Nana – grandmother, grandma
Nappy – diaper
No worries- all good, nothing to worry about
OE – Overseas Experience, many students go on their OE after finishing university, see the world (usually 1-2 year adventure, but some stay overseas for much longer)
Pack a sad – bad mood, morose, ill-humoured, broken , as in “she packed a sad”
Pakeha – non-Maori person, usually meaning person of European descent that lives in NZ
Panel beater – auto repair shop, panel shop
Pav – pavlova, dessert usually topped with kiwifruit and cream
Petrol – gasoline, gas
Piker – someone who gives up easy, slacker
Pisshead – someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, heavy drinker
Piss up – party, social gathering, excuse for drinking alcohol
Pissed– drunk
Pong – bad smell, stink
Pram – baby stroller, baby pushchair
Pressie – present
Pub – bar or hotel that serves liquor
Randy – horny, wanting sex
Rark up – telling somebody off
Rattle your dags – hurry up, get moving
Root – have sex, get sex
Rubbish – garbage, trash
Scarce as hens teeth – very scarce, rare (also might just say "scarce as" or "rare as")
Shout – to treat, to buy something for someone, as in “lunch is my shout”
Sickie – to take a day off work or school because you are sick
Sparkie – electrician
Steinie – bottle of Steinlager, brand lager
Stubby – small glass bottle of beer
Sunnies – sunglasses
Sweet As- good, great or meaning 'ok' as a response
Ta – thanks
Take-aways – food to be taken away and eaten, fast food outlet
Togs – swimsuit, swim gear
Torch – flashlight
Tramping – hiking
Twink – white-out
Ute – small pickup truck
Whinge – complain, moan
Wobbly – to have a tantrum
“Kiwis” is short for New Zealanders. This is also small flightless bird or the kiwi.
If you say you eat kiwis, you might get a strange look as it’s usually referred to as kiwifruit in NZ.