New Zealand Kiwi English Glossary

All Blacks: the national rugby team; never let on that you don’t know what this is
ANZAC: Australia New Zealand Army Corps ; ANZAC Day is a national holiday (Apr. 25)
Aotearoa: “Land of the long white cloud”; the Maori name for New Zealand
ap-jump: to abseil face-first down a building
bach (“BATCH”): beachside holiday house; called a “crib” on South Island
backpackers: hostel
bathroom: room with a bath; not necessarily with a toilet
big bikkies: big bucks
bikkies: cookies, crackers
billy: backcountry cooking pot
biscuit: cookie
bloody: all-purpose curse
bogan: hooligan
bonnet: hood of a car
boot: trunk of a car
bottle shop: liquor store
capsicum: green, red, or yellow bell peppers
cashpoint: ATM
cheers: pardon; bye; thanks
chemist: drugstore, pharmacy
chips: french fries
chockers, chockablock: packed, crowded, busy, full
college: secondary school
concessions: senior citizens
crib: see “bach”
crisps: potato chips
cruisy: mellow, no worries
cuppa: cup of tea or coffee
dag: good guy; joker
dairy: convenience store
dear: expensive
DOC (“DOCK”): Department of Conservation
flash: glam, upscale, trendy
flat white: coffee; a long black with a dollop of milk
footie: soccer
French letter, frenchie: condom
get on the piss: to get drunk
Godzone: New Zealand (from “God’s own”)
good as gold: fine, sure, great
good on ya: good for you
gridiron: American football
grotty: dirty, run-down
gumboots: rubber boots
handle: a glass of beer smaller than a pint
hoe: to eat quickly
hokey pokey: NZ’s favorite ice cream
hoon: slob, jerk
hoover: to vacuum or eat quickly
hottie: hot water bottle
hundreds and thousands: sprinkles
jandals: flip-flops
jersey, jumper: sweater
judder bar: speed bump
jugger: bloke, man
Kiwi: New Zealander; of or relating to New Zealand
kiwi: small flightless bird; the national symbol
kiwifruit: a furry greenish-brown fruit
knackered: very tired
L&P: soda
lift: elevator
long black: espresso with hot water
long drop: outhouse
main: main course of a meal
Mainland: South Island
Marmite: yeast spread
metal road: gravel road
milk bar: convenience store
no joy: no luck
ocker: over the top Kiwis
Pakeha: person of European descent; Caucasion foreigner
paper (university): class, course
paua: abalone, type of shellfish
pavlova: creamy, fruity meringue dessert
pipi: clam-like shellfish
piss down: to rain hard
plate: potluck dinner
Pom: Englishman (derisive)
pot plant: house plant
powerpoints: electrical hook-ups for tents or caravans
punting: any water activity in a boat
push bike: bicycle
quay (“KEY”): pier
rag: local newspaper
rattle your dags: to hurry up
rockmelon: cantaloupe
rubber: eraser
salad: cucumber, carrots, beetroot; “with salad” means these items come on a sandwich
scroggin: trail mix, gorp
sealed road: paved road
short black: between an espresso and a long black
Shortland Street: New Zealand soap opera; constant hostel entertainment
shout: to buy for someone
skull: to chug (beer)
Sky TV: satellite television
snog: to kiss or make out
snooker: pool-like game; to take a person’s money usually in a game of snooker
spit the dummy: a diva-worthy temper tantrum
spinner: jerk
stubby: small bottle of beer
sweet as: great, cool
ta: thanks
TAB: shop to place bets without going to the tracks
take the piss/mickey out of: to mock; ridicule
tariff: price
tinny: lucky
ute: pickup truck (“utility vehicle”)
Vegemite: yeast spread
wanker: jerk
woolies: winter clothes; long underwear
yob: see “hoon”
yonks: forever

Maori-English Glossary

ao: cloud Aotearoa: Maori name for New Zealand e noho ra: goodbye (said by the person leaving) haere mai: welcome haere ra: goodbye, farewell (said by the person staying) haka: war dance ...more