Kiwi Slang interpreted
From a sign in my mum's hometown of Otorohanga in the North Island, New Zealand
- great, good fun: "That'll be beaut, mate"
- comedian; joker
- usually a man and often used when referring to a stranger: "There's this bloke down the road who sells "greases" (Fish & chips) from his pie-cart for $1 a bag, which is much cheaper than that bloke who has a shop"
- expression of surprise: "Well, blow me down"
- to exploit others; as in "dole bludger"
- roughly translates as: "There ya go, that's all there is to it! Just press this big red button that says, 'Launch the Missile', and Bob's your uncle"
- Young hoon (idiot) in fast car with incredibly loud stereo
- disappointed; annoyed
- bricklayer
- usually used for something like 'cutie': "How's it going bugalugs?"
- A mischievous or funny person: "You silly bugger!" Also useful as an expletive when you drop a piano on your foot: "Bugger! I felt that"
- exhausted
- go away; get out
- pregnant
- make an intense effort
(beauty) - You fabulous thing! When someone does something nice for you: "You bite-ee!"
- died; "Kicked the bucket"
- goodbye
- Goodbye; thanks; good luck
- builder; carpenter
- full to overflowing
- serious; severe: "Yeah, hurts something chronic"
- to vomit
- untrue statement or remark: "It's a load of cods wollop"
- gosh! wow!
- sick; unwell
- cruisy; taking it easy: "Let's just cruise 'round.... I'm cruisy"
- male or female cousin
- expensive
- A small dent in a vehicle: "The prang (collision) caused a bit of a ding"
- Cute or tacky
- bad; unreliable: "That fish tastes a bit dodgy"
- pronouced 'ay' as in 'say' and often used at the end of sentences when expecting a reply: "This would be a better gift, eh", instead of saying "Do you think this would be a better gift"? It is also often used as a substitute for 'pardon?' or 'what?'
- let's not do that: "Let's flag it"
- sensational; looks really good: "That's flash!""
- steal; 'nick'
- old person who doesn't know anything about our generation: "old fogey!... I mean, really! Get a clue!"
- exclamation of disbelief equivalent to: "Stop pulling my leg"; "Get outta here" and "No way"
- abbreviation for; "Give me..."
- abbreviation for: "Give us a..."
- becoming reclusive
- A good job well done; not a problem
- funny; comical; "That's hard case"; or a funny person; a real character; "He's a real hard case"
- why?
- Usually associated with young adults, fast cars, loud stereos and alcohol
- kiwi for 'goodbye'
- raining heavily: "It's hosing down"
or 'honky dory' - everything's fine: "My life is hunky dory"
- die
- exhausted
- Margarine
- Friend; pal; mate; buddy: "Thanks, mate" or "Pass us a beer, mate"; A common term that can be used even with strangers: "How's it going, mate" = "How are you?" But it is NOT used to the same extent as in Australia, where every second word seems to be 'mate'
- go away. "Get lost!"
- auto body shop
- to give up when the going gets tough
- one who gives up easily
- motor vehicle accident
- "Go away!"; "Get lost!"
- raining heavily
- horny; feeling sexy
- give somebody a good telling off
- hurry up, get a move on. The expression 'Rattle your days' reputedly refers to the sound a running sheep makes as it rattles its days (the dried excrement hanging around its rear end)
- Phone somebody: "I'll give them a ring
- disgusting; horrible
- drink beer rapidly
- not a problem; it'll be OK
- to take time off work for a fictitious illness: "Throw a sickie"
- short of money
- bragging; showing off
- mixture of sarcastic & nasty
Kindly description of someone who is being silly or behaving like a softy or scaredy car: "You're being a sook"... "Just a bid sook". More often than not the phrase is used as a term of endearment
- electric
- throw a fit; get really mad
- a child
- to take a look at something: "Have a squiz"; ask to look at something: "Giz a Squiz"
- trouble maker; agitator
- short of money
- 'honestly', expletive showing frustration and derived from the old phrase 'God's Truth'... when run together, it becomes "s'truth!"
(sweet potato) - to die
- someone driving really, really slowly
- thanks
- goodbye (usually when speaking to a child)
- Expression of anger: "Go away!"... "Get lost!"
- roundabout way to get somewhere, a scenic tour
- pregnant
- general conversation between friends: "Have a yack"
- Tell a tall story: "Spin a yarn"
- forever, a long time: "I haven't seen them in yolks"
- "Hello, I'm here. Can I come in?"
- stupid person
- someone who spoils the fun and doesn't get into the swing of things, particularly at a social occasion
- "Are you insane?"
- complain
- Become angry: "Park a wobbly"; throw a tantrum: "Throw a wobbly"
- crooked
- out of the way location: "Out in the sticks"
- suspenders
- bathrobe
- cardigan; woollen button-up-the-front jersey
- rubber boots; wellingtons; wells
- rubber thongs; flip-flops
- a woollen sweater or sweatshirt
- jambes; pyjamas
- a sleeveless top with thin straps
- bathing suit
- pantyhose
- sweats; sweatsuit
- Americans call them 'cookies'
- cotton candy
- bell pepper
- french fries
- a chocolate-covered marshmallow fish; also frequently given (literally or figuratively) as a reward for a job well done: "Good on ya, mate. You deserve a chocolate fish"
- potato chips
- cup of tea
- soda drink; pop
- common term for fish and chips, probably because they usually are!
- 'sea foam' candy
- popsicle
- Americans call it 'jelly'
- Americans call it 'jello'
- fizzy soda water; "Lemon & Paeroa" was originally lemon flavoured spring water from the town of Paeroa
- candy
- margarine
- small pancake often served with jam and whipped cream
- a chocolate-covered marshmallow confection
- sausage
- It can also mean 'dinner': 'Come for tea'
- spread for toast or bread -indescribably missed by many expat kiwis. Bill Tabb described it as... "A spread the colour missed of dark molasses, the consistency of cold honey and the flavour of yeasty soy sauce. A flavour that is acquired and quite good on warm soft pretzels here in California."
- New Zealand term for 'take-outs' or food 'to go'
- Can of beer, can also mean a drug
- ketchup
- 'corner store' originally selling only milk, bread, papers, convenience foods and dairy produce, and until the past decade or so, the only shop allowed to open 7 days a week
- small holiday home, pronounced "batch"
- New Zealand native forest area
- parking lot
- pharmacy; drug store
- toilet; lavatory; W.C.
- apartment
- pavement or sidewalk
- first floor; very confusing for kiwi visitors to the States; When using lifts (elevators) we are always one floor out!
Pub
- TV commercials; adverts
- Agricultural & Pastoral Show where farmers exhibit animals & produce. There are often sideshows for the townies, with ferris wheels, dodges etc.
- car hood
- trunk; back storage compartment of car
- fender
- trailer; mobile home
- hen
- resume; Curriculum Vitae
- baby's pacifier
- Television
- Check
- Lidded polystyrene box for keeping beer & food cold; Australians call them 'Eskies'
- small holiday home; a South Island term for 'bach'
- Christmas
- unemployment benefit
- wash cloth
- stare at: "What are you gawking at?"
- hot water bottle
- speed bump
- New Zealander or an endangered flightless bird native to New Zealand
- hairy-skinned fruit with green flesh, formerly known as Chinese Gooseberry
- elevator
- indigenous people of New Zealand
- freeway
- grandmother
- diaper
- person of European descent; non-Maori
- gasoline
- bad smell
- outage
- zip code
- (Perambulator) baby carriage; stroller
- family; relatives
- eraser
- trash; garbage
- scotch tape; sticky tape
- drink made with lemonade and beer
- band-aid
- sunglasses
- dish rag
- flashlight
- hiking; trekking
- Horse racing with a sulky
- clothes closet
- windshield
