Talk the Talk

Kia Ora!

I have wanted to put together a list of “Kiwi slang” words but haven’t found the time – since I am packing and sitting around all day I decided to put together some words and phrases! These were compiled through my own experiences and with the help of my student, host family, and friends!

eh – compulsory addition to the end of a rhetorical question “‘Cor, last night was bloody good eh”

ie – this is added to the end of shortened words eg; pressie, hottie, tantie, cuzzie

Jumper – Sweater but not a cardi (my students made sure I knew the difference)

Flash – Fancy

Heaps – A lot or tons (I love this one J )

Root - to whore oneself

Shag - to have sex

Fanny - women’s parts

Knackered – exhausted

Full stop – a period at the end of a sentence

letter box - mail box

bach - beach house

petrol - gasoline

entree - appetizer

nearly - almost

pardon - excuse me

Dag – a piece of dried up sheep dung attached to the sheep’s bum (is also known as a hard case character)

Hard Case – Someone who has heaps of personality, may do unusual things but basically is a real laugh.

No Worries – No problem

naughty - bad

nappy - diaper

pram/buggy - stroller

biscuit – cookie

capsicum - bell pepper

kumara - sweet potato

zed - the letter "z"

Bro – friend (guy) or brother

Cuz – friend (guy or girl), cousin

Chur bro – cheers, thanks or that’s cool, my friend

Good on ya mate - Well done my friend

She’ll be right mate – It’ll be OK

Lolly – candy (always got this one wrong)

rubbish - trash

indicator - turn signal

winge - whine

gave me a fright - scared me

plaster - band-aid

overtake - passing (in a car)

Nice one mate – Good job

Sweet as – as it’s ‘sweet as pie’ so it’s all good

True – Question as in ‘is it true?’ or ‘really?’ Answered back ‘true’ as ‘yes it is true’.

Ring – Phone or call

Togs – Swimsuit

Jandals – Flip-flops

Sunnies – Sunglasses

Suss – To figure out

Torch – flashlight

Wop-wops – out in the back country (middle of nowhere)

Piker – Someone who backs out of doing something

Tiki Tour – to drive around taking the scenic route (done this a lot!)

Gawk – to stare

Pack a sad – To get upset and sulk

Loo – Toilet

Maori Words used frequently: 

Kia ora – Hello, Goodbye, Thank you.

Haere Mai – Welcome

Haere Ra – Goodbye

Whanau – Family

Ai – Yes

Kau – No

Kai – Food

Kia ora tatou — Hello everyone

Tena koutou — Greeting to you all

Kei te pehea koe? — How’s it going?

Kei te pai — Good

Ka kite ano — Until I see you again (Bye)

Mana – respect, status earned through actions

Haere Ra – I will have a new post for you soon!