Talk like a Kiwi!



  • "Bach/Crib" - A basic holiday home, classically found at the beach.
  • "Beehive" - The executive wing of New Zealand’s Parliamentary Buildings, so called because of its 'hive-shaped' architectural design.
  • "Bloke" - The common man, the ordinary guy in the street.
  • "Cheers" - Often used in place of ‘thank you.'
  • "Choice" - Describes something thought to be excellent, “That sports car is choice!."
  • "Cuzzies" - Relatives.
  • "Dairy" - Convenience store, sometimes called 'the corner dairy.'
  • "Footy" - Rugby, the national obsession.
  • "Gumboots" - Rubber work boots, also known as Wellingtons or Wellies.
  • "Hokey Pokey" - New Zealand’s favourite ice cream flavour, vanilla with toffee bits.
  • "Jandals" - Open topped summer footwear, known elsewhere as thongs or flip-flops.
  • "Kia ora" - Maori greeting, used as ‘hello.'
  • "Kiwi" - A flightless bird, or used colloquially to mean a New Zealander.
  • "Kiwifruit" - Small brown-skinned green-fleshed fruit, high in Vitamin C!
  • "Knackered" - In reference to a person it means tired, "I've been at work all day and I'm knackered!"
  • "Lollies" - Candy, a store selling candy is known as a 'lolly shop.'
  • "Loo" - Toilet.
  • "Mate" - A close friend, to do something for a friend at a discount is to give them "mate's rates."
  • "Munted" - intoxicated /drunk /rat-faced/ pissed - the way to describe you mate when he has had to much
  • "Mullet" - A very claasy style of haircut
  • "Pavlova" - Also known as a 'pav', this iconic New Zealand dessert consists of a baked meringue topped with cream and fruit.
  • "Pommie" - Also known as a 'pom', this refers to someone from Britain.
  • "Quart" - 750ml bottle of beer.
  • "Shout" - The act providing something for people, usually meaning to take turns buying a round of drinks at a bar/pub – “It’s Joe’s shout."
  • "Stuck in" - As in ‘to get stuck in’, to become involved in working on something.

    • "Stubbies" - The best shorts avalible for hot cental otago days / Stubbie is also a 330ml bottle of beer.

  • "Sweet and Sweet as" - Broadly used to indicate general agreement, “I can meet you after work if you like,” “Sweet!”; or used to describe something highly regarded or “That’s a sweet motorcycle!”, “This concert is going to be sweet as!."
  • "Thanks" - Often used in requests in place of ‘please’, as in “I’ll have a bottle of orange juice, thanks.”
  • "Takeaway" - Food taken ‘to go’, often fast food such as fish 'n' chips.
  • "Togs" - Bathing suit, also called swimmers, bathers or cozzie.
  • "Tomato sauce" -Ketchup, Wattie's is the iconic brand in New Zealand.
  • "Varsity" - Shortened term for University.

    • "Twelve / 12oz" - a glass of beer for the mrs

  • "Wop-wops" - In the middle of nowhere, equivalent to the American ‘boondocks.