The Language of New Zealand

Get to Know the Lingo of the Kiwi Nation

May 26, 2007 Crysta Parkinson

If you want to get with the locals on your trip to New Zealand, you've got to get with the lingo. Here's some help with those Kiwi words.

Do you speak Kiwi?

G’day mate, grab your togs, we’re going to the bach for a holiday!

If this sentence may as well have been written in Latin, you’re going to need a primer in the language of the locals before you head to New Zealand for that vacation.

The official language of New Zealand is English, but if you’re visiting from the U.S., you will quickly find it seems to be an entirely different English being spoken by the locals.

People

Yes, it’s a bird, a fuzzy fruit and even a shoe polish, but a Kiwi is also the familiar name for the people of New Zealand. (And if you are coming from America – you are a Yank, no matter which side of the Mason-Dixon you happen to be from.)

All of these terms stem from the kiwi bird, which is unique to New Zealand and revered as a national symbol.

There are lots of words your new-found friends might call you on your trip. Don’t be surprised if you’re called a bloke, a real dag or mate – they are all terms of endearment!

And don’t forget the munchkins. A child having a fit could be called a sprog spitting the dummy. That same child also might be called an ankle biter – and a baby is likely to be wearing a nappy (diaper).

Food

While visiting New Zealand, you’ll want to start your day with a bit of brekkie (breakfast). The champagne breakfast is popular, especially on holidays. For more of an everyday brekkie, pour yourself a bowl of Weet-bix (“Cuz Kiwi kids are Weet-bix kids”).

When it comes to lunch or tea (dinner) time, it may be strange to start your meal with an entrée (appetizer), and then move on to the main, but you’ll find this is the norm.

If you’re looking for potato chips, you want crisps. Ask for chips, and you’ll get something like French fries. The best way to try these would be to order greasies – or fish and chips – near the beach.

Want to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and eat in the park or on the beach? You can pick up take-aways (a to-go order) or hit a pie cart, which is a caravan on the side of the road where you can purchase items like pies, burgers and fish and chips.

After tea, pop into a pub and scull (drink quickly, slam) a shandy (drink made with lemonade and beer) with your new-found mates.

Then wrap up the night with supper. Depending who you ask, this could be a late evening meal, or dessert. Maybe a pavlova, some hokey pokey ice cream or another local treat.

If a treat is what you’re after, you should know about these:

• marshmallow confection

And of course there’s the chocolate fish, which is literally a chocolate covered marshmallow fish. You may even get one (literally or figuratively) as a reward for a job well done.

By the way, the literal translation of the opening sentence would be – “Hi buddy, grab your swim suit, we’re going to the beach house for a vacation!” On the South Island, that bach (say “batch”) would be called a crib.

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