Can you decipher this? “Dodgy greasies or too much sculling? You’ll chunder in the dunny.” If not, read on for explanations of some common Kiwi terms.
Kia ora (pronounced kyorah) = hello, welcome
Kiwi = a New Zealander or the small brown bird
Kiwifruit = kiwi (the fruit)
Pakeha = non-Maori person (Maori are the Aboriginal people of N.Z.)
Tertiary education = post-secondary education
Uni = university
Polytechnic = cross between university and college. Polytechnics grant degrees.
Papers = courses, e.g. “I’m doing a paper in economics.”
Scheme = program, e.g. an “exchange scheme” means an “exchange program”
Flat = apartment (flatting = living in an apartment, e.g. “I’m flatting with friends.”)
EFTPOS = bank card
Bush walk = hike in the forest
Tramp = hike
Togs = bathing suit
Rellies = relatives
Jandals = flip-flops
Hottie = hot water bottle
Greasies = fish and chips
Loo or dunny = bathroom
Dodgy = bad, spoiled
Chunder = to vomit
Flash = really good, expensive, e.g. “That’s a flash car.”
Good on ya, mate! = congratulations, well done
Scull = to drink beer rapidly
Football = soccer
American football = football as Canadians know it
Hockey = field hockey, unless “ice hockey” is specified
All Blacks = N.Z.’s national rugby team (the equivalent of gods)
Kit = uniform
Long black = two shots of espresso
Short black = black espresso
Flat white = espresso with slightly foamy milk
