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#Dictionary of slang in new zealand how to#
#Dictionary of slang in new zealand professional#

A mythical place in the southern Pacific Ocean made of clouds, that was invented by Australians.

#Dictionary of slang in new zealand professional#

And she will think that I have completely lost the plot and may need professional help but for me and my new Kiwi friends, this is the everyday language and I love it.(proper) noun. So next time my Mum phones me and asks me how things are I will tell her, Kia Ora, things are pretty good aye Cuzzy Bro, life is sweet as, Chur. Wop Wops - Remote or Rural District, the countryside Under the Weather - Feeling off Colour, unwell, tired Snowed Under - Usually has too much work or responsibility Piker - Someone who opts out of an activity Narley - Cool, good (more commonly spelt as gnarly with a silent ‘g’) Lolly - The usual word for a confection or sweet Jandals - Rubber sandals or thongs (called flip flops in Britain) Heart of Gold - Describing a person who is very kind Head over Heels - Usually describing somebody who is very very happy Hard Case - A tough but likeable person, an eccentric person The following is a bigger list with some commonly used New Zealand slang terms and their meanings.īach - A holiday home (also known as a crib in the South Island)īeaut, beauty - Something good or outstanding.īro - Term of Address for a male friend or relativeīYO - Bring your Own (normally refers to Alcohol)Ĭuz - Term of address for a friend or relativeĭork - An idiot or a physically uncoordinated person Sweet As – My personal favourite phrase ever! Mainly used as a form of approval or acknowledgement that things are good.įor example: Mel: ”How you feeling today?” Me: “Sweet as Bro” It is pronounced as it looks and often used to turn a statement into a question.įor example: Me: “Did you have a good night?” John: “Yeah, It was pretty good aye?”ĥ. Aye / Eh – Aye is probably one of the most frequently used words in the Kiwi dictionary. Not really slang, but used all the time.įor example: Me: “Hello Cuzzy Bro”. Kia Ora – A friendly and traditional Maori greeting for Hello and Thank you.

Cuzzy Bro – This is an affectionate term used for a person who is a good friend.įor example: Annie: “Who is that?”. Chur Bro – This is a shortened version of the words “Cheers” and “Brother”, so basically a way of saying thank you.įor example: Me: “Pass me the remote” Cam: “Sure” Me: “Chur Bro”Ģ. So for all you non Kiwi’s, I have compiled a list of the top 5 most common words/phrases and their meanings.ġ. I often find myself picking up the odd word and sometimes I even wonder what the hell it is I’ve just said. Kiwi’s, like in any other country, have their own slang and phrases and in all honesty, sometimes it is quite baffling. Going to another country it is inevitable there will be differences in every day conversation, so I knew that New Zealand would be no different at all.

Ka kite ano - Until I see you again (Bye).

Tena koe - Greetings to you (said to one person).

Useful Maori Words & PhrasesĪn attempt by a visitor to use Maori words as greetings will almost certainly elicit a delighted response from both Maori and Pakeha (European) New Zealanders. The ‘ng’ is similar to our own ‘ng’ sound in a word like ‘sing’, except that in the Maori language, words can start with ‘ng’. Many Maori pronounce the ‘wh’ sound similar to our ‘f’. There are also two different consonants - ‘wh’ and ‘ng’. There are eight consonants in Maori similar to those in English - ‘h’, ‘k’, ‘m’, ‘n’, ‘p’, ‘r’, ‘t’, and ‘w’. The Maori language consists of five vowel sounds: a e i o u (‘a’ as in ‘car’, ‘e’ as in ‘egg’, ‘i’ like the ‘ee’ in ‘tee’, ‘o’ as in ‘four’, ‘u’ like an ‘o’ in ‘to’). In fact, Maori language has a logical structure, and, unlike English, has very consistent rules of pronunciation.

At first, visitors may be puzzled by the seemingly impossible to pronounce names. Below is a short guide to Te Reo (some Maori pronunciation and some commonly used words), and some New Zealand slang terms you’ll hear on an almost daily basis! Te Reo – the Maori LanguageĪny visitor to New Zealand will become immediately aware of the Maori language, as the vast majority of place names are of Maori origin.

#Dictionary of slang in new zealand how to#

Knowing some Maori words will be useful while you’re here, as well as learning how to pronounce some of the place names you come across. The New Zealand language is a mix of English, Maori words and phrases, Australian slang and a few other bits and pieces thrown in for good measure.