New Zealand, as with most dialects of English, has its own slang. Recent years have seen New Zealand slang change quite a bit, with many slang terms being left out, whilst others have been brought in to replace them.
As someone who is a quarter Kiwi (New Zealander), I often find it odd that people believe that New Zealand has no slang… even if we are one of the most sophisticated languages!
15. Kiwi – New Zealander
In many English dialects’ slang, there are terms for the country. However, very rarely are there terms for the people themselves (with the only other one being “Brit” in British slang!)
To most outsiders, a kiwi is a type of fruit. However, in New Zealand a kiwi is a type of bird native to the region. There are several stories about why New Zealanders refer to themselves as kiwis, but nevertheless, they do.
For the most part, New Zealanders refer to themselves as kiwis, mostly doing it to foreigners. This is possible to distinguish themselves from their Australian neighbors, but is also considered somewhat of a point of national pride.
Example:
“We’re all a bunch of kiwis here”
14. Turps – Unforeseen Absence
Do you remember that one kid at school who was always off for some reason or another? Perhaps you were/are that kid. Whilst there are several slang terms for this, New Zealand slang uses turps.
The term turps itself is a shortened form of turpentine. However, in the late 19th century, Kiwi laborers (who worked with turpentine) began referring to those people who had repeated absences as turps.
Originally, the term was sued to describe someone who was off because they had drank too much in the previous days. However, thanks to public schools, it has been used to describe any form of absence.
Example:
“Where’s Alan? Is he on the turps again?”
13. Munted – Drunk
Both turps and munted have somewhat combined meanings. As with munted, turps too can be used to describe someone who’s drunk, albeit someone who’s too drunk to go to school/work.
However, unlike turps, munted is used to describe someone who’s well beyond drunk. Usually, this is someone who is so drunk, they’re lying on the floor laughing as though they’re the Joker!
Due to this, many people who do this repeated get a reputation for being somewhat of a meat heat, or in New Zealand, a munter. This is usually someone who couldn’t organize a pissup in a brewery!
Example:
“Have you seen Steve, he’s absolutely munted!”
12. Bach – Holiday (Vacation) Home
Very rarely does slang encompass things abroad. Occasionally, there are slang terms for other countries, but these are usually countries with strong ties between one another.
However, for something almost exclusively abroad (these days anyway), is very rare, not just in New Zealand slang, but also in most other languages’ slang.
With that being said, many New Zealand tradesmen will refer to a vacation home (what they call a “holiday home”) as a bach. This is a shortened from of bachcrib, itself being a type of holiday home native to New Zealand!
11. Snags – Sausages
Snags is a term borrowed from Australian slang. Whilst the term is more famous for being used in Australia, it is arguably used more in New Zealand than it ever could be in Australia!
As with Australian slang, snags are sausages. More commonly, they are used to refer to those sausages that you would cook on a grill, or more commonly those you’d cook on a barbeque.
Recent years have seen things like veganism and vegetarianism become quite popular. As such, many food companies in New Zealand have begun offering things like veggie snags.
Example:
“We’ve got the snags for barbie tonight!”
10. Sweet / Choice as – That’s Great
Sometimes, you really want to tell a friend some great news. Usually, this (should) get them quite excited, and they’ll want to congratulate you. To do this, you could you choice as or sweet as!
Indeed, both of these New Zealand slang words are used in almost the exact same contexts. With the only real difference being personal preference, rather than anything societal.
When/if translated, both are generally translated the exact same, usually to something like “That’s great!” or “That’s awesome” depending on the context!
Example:
“I just passed my exams!”
“Choice as! Well done.”
9. Smoko – Smoke Break
In the old days, a smoko was quite literally a smoke break- where you’d have a break to have a cigarette. However, due to the effects of smoking, cigarette consumption has declined drastically, but that hasn’t killed the smoko…
On the contrary rather, it has made it more so! Today, much of the essence of the smoko is still running, just minus the smoking.
At about 10 O’clock, most New Zealanders have their first break of the working day. Here, they go into the break room, or outside, and have a conversation, usually over biscuits and tea/coffee.
They usually talk about anything, ranging from what they did at the weekend, to what they’re doing next weekend, to even what they’re doing once they get home!
Example:
“Mike, we’re all going for a smoko, do you want to come?”
8. Mate – Good Friend
Mate is a distinctly British Empire slang term. Whilst it is more commonly seen as either a British or Australian slang term, it is also quite common in New Zealand too!
As with its usage in Australian and British slang, mate is used to describe a close friend, usually one you’ve been friends with for many months, and know extremely well.
It can be used in two main ways, either as a way to address your friend or as a way to describe your friend. For example, you may greet someone as mate, but refer to them as “one of your mates”.
Example:
“Hey mate, what’s up?”
7. Sus – Suspicious
Occasionally Kiwis will have that 3am Chinese takeaway or see something that is a bit iffy or potentially a bit suspicious. To describe this, there is a fairly common New Zealand slang term- sus.
Sus itself isn’t really a slang term. Instead, it is simply an abbreviation of the word suspicious. And it is generally used in that context- anything that seems out of place and/or dodgy, is very sus.
This is one of the few modern New Zealand slang words that isn’t under threat by American ones. Instead, it has actually somewhat of a prevalence in the United States, mostly in the New Zealand expat community!
Example:
“Did you see that car?”
“Yeah, it was totally sus!”
6. Chur – Sure
Sometimes, you really want or need to answer a friend’s question(s). However, you are currently occupied with doing something else and can’t 100% communicate with them.
As such, you nod, or place a thumbs up. In New Zealand, you’re more commonly doing to hear the New Zealand slang term chur. For the most part, this can be used alongside or in place of a nod or thumbs up.
However, due to American TV shows and movies, many young Kiwis are preferring a lot of American slang terms. This has seen chur become less and less popular in recent years.
Example:
“Do you want to come to my party on Saturday?”
“Chur!”
5. Missus – Wife
The term missus is used quite a bit in the English speaking world’s slang. At least in the former British Empire’s slang that is (I’m not too sure about American slang).
For the most part, it is used informally to talk about your wife, or someone else’s wife. The alternative term for a missus is wifey, however, the latter term isn’t as well used as missus is.
The term missus can actually be used to describe a long term girlfriend as well. However, this is usually someone who embodies many qualities a “typical” wife does ie. cooking, cleaning etc.
However, use this with caution. Many younger generations do see it as a little demeaning to be called a wifey or a missus to their face, especially if they don’t know you very well.
But then again, you wouldn’t use New Zealand slang with someone you didn’t know very well…
Example:
“Is that Mike’s new missus?”
4. Stubbie – Beer
New Zealand, as with their Australian neighbors, are very keen on alcohol, especially their beer. In Australian slang, they tend to refer to beers as “cold ones”, however, the alternative is the Kiwi slang term stubbie.
That’s right, not only does New Zealand use the term, but also their close neighbors too! This latter fact is mostly due to Australian and Kiwi immigration in one another’s country.
For the most part, stubbie is used to describe only the various types of beer. However, in recent years, many young people (especially those slightly drunk) have used the term stubbie synonymously with alcohol.
Example:
“Hey Paul, pass me a stubbie!”
3. Togs – Swimsuit
You’ll mostly here this in the Kiwi summertime, when families all over New Zealand are driving either to the beach or to the local swimming pool. However, you’ll hear it intermittently over the Kiwi’s winter.
Essentially, togs are anything that will preserve your modesty at the beach and/or prevent you from being arrested. This may include bikinis, swimming trunks (shorts) or bathing suits.
If you go shopping in a small(er) Kiwi town during the summer months, or even the late spring months, you’ll also see smaller, independent sports stores advertising for togs (swimwear) in the windows!
Example:
“I got a new pair of togs at the weekend!”
2. Bro – Brother / Close Friend
At one point in time, bro was one of the most commonly used American slang words. However, thanks to American TV shows and movies, it has become a distinctly Kiwi term.
Originally, the term bro was used simply as a shortened form of brother, being used to informally address him. However, it has since gotten a new meaning, mostly used to describe a close friend who is like a brother.
Whilst mate is way more common, bro is becoming quite common as well. Most Kiwis will refer to their closest male friends as bros, whilst referring to other close friends as mate.
Example:
“Hey bro, how are you?”
1. Kia Ora – Hello
Personally, kia ora is one of my favorite New Zealand slang words simply because of how cool it is. Originally, it came from local Maori tribes who used kia ora to mean something akin to “Hello”.
Early settlers in New Zealand heard the greeting and liked the sound of it. As such, they began to use it with one another, to the point where today, it is one of the most common ways to greet people, sometimes used more than “Hello”!
This one comes with a warning. Due to kia ora’s origins as a Maori word, and the subsequent repression of Maori and aboriginals, some younger people have begun to get a little annoyed if you use it around them…
Example:
“Kia ora! I haven’t seen you in ages! How are you?”
Which are your favorite New Zealand slang words? Tell me in the comments!