New Vocab For New Zealand
 

We've been here now just over 4 years and I still find myself taken aback at some of the new vocabulary that has slipped in to everyday life relatively easily. Not just from my children, but me too.

I thought we could start a dictionary for the uninitiated.

I'll start, please feel free to add.:thumbup:

I'll go NZ first, with UK translation.

Vegemite ... Marmite
Lollies ... Sweets
Chips ... Crisps
Jersey ... Jumper
Togs ... Swimming Costumes
Jandals ... Flip Flops
Lindaur ... Bollinger (:p)
Gas ... Petrol
Ute ... Pickup
Post Shop ... Post Office
Gum Boots ... Wellies
Mall ... Precinct
Cops ... Police
Mailbox ... Letterbox
Buck ... Quid
Chick ... Girl
Dude ... Guy
Mags/Rims ... Hubcaps
Lambs Fry ... Liver
Cell(phone) ... Mobile

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

OMG we've only been here for just under 2 years and we say half that list I reckon :rofl::rofl:

Jan

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Hahahahaha Jan, with "I reckon" as you so eloquently put, being yet another Kiwiism!!!:thumbup:

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

and of course..
Chips ... Chips:confused:

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Morning Tea - mid morning 'meal break' / snack
Smoko = tea break
Piss = beer
Feed = having a feed (something to eat) *cringe*
Having a 'munch' - having something to eat *winces even more*
Highway = motorway
Crim = a criminal
Skivvy - long sleeve t-shirt
Piker = wimp
Pike out = wimp out / leave early
Sammy = sandwich
Budder Chicken = incredibly mild chicken 'curry'
Shoot through / shot through - left or gone for the day
Crook = sick
Pottle = small tub (e.g. a pottle of cream)

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Hot chips = chips ;)

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

rapt = thrilled/very pleased
te reo = the (Maori) language
patties = burgers
pork strips = a fatty part of the pig I have never seen anyone eat in the UK (although I am a veggie!)

Jan

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

These are all good.

Jug ... Kettle
Script ... Prescription
Taylor Mades ... Branded Cigarettes
Singlet ... Vest Top
Tagging ... Grafitti

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Thereby creating my very own Kiwiism of "Going to the Piss Offy" instead of the offy, off licence or in fact bottle store here!:lol: I'm so funny ...

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Pharmacy = chemist
Mail = post (letters)
bus = coach (as well as bus)
service station = petrol station
lotto = lottery (powerball's $10 mill tonight, and it has my name on it :fingerscrossed:)
good as gold = that will be fine
no worries - no problem
sweet as/awesome/choice = sign of approval, um maybe in UK great/fantastic/brilliant?
ice block = ice lolly
tramping = hiking

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

We've usually describe people as being 'as good as gold' in English, especially when speaking of well-behaved children. Here people often use it with reference to their own or other people's well-being. How're ya going? I am as good as gold!!

Of course lots of theses so-called Kiwisms aren't Kiwi at all, most are a mush-mash of Scottish, American, Irish, Australian or English expressions; just that often they use them in a different context or perhaps emphasised more frequently than we're ordinarily used to. For reasons I can never fathom New Zealand taken the USA direction in lots of cases and I think this may have come by way of Australia in a lot of cases. e.g. everything being 'ore-sum' and naming a range of things such as Zuchini, Capsicums and highway.

Truck = lorry

Is in popular use in the UK, for sure!! People either smoke rollies or tailor-made.

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Arvo=Afternoon
Gidday=Good Day
She be 'right = I am a cowboy *insert profession*
Cuzzie Bro's = Extended Family

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Some of these words are to me just so much part and parcel of every day, I forget that they are unusual. :rofl:

rort - scam, cheat or defraud
rark (rarked up) - provoke or wind someone up
staunch - dependable / strong
robust - reliable / strong
munted - broken / smashed / messed up
on the weekend - at the weekend
pollies - politicians
On the DPB - On the 'Domestic Purposes Benefit' (dole)
a park - a parking space (I couldn't find a park.)
a car park - as above a single parking space (as opposed to a collection of parking spaces)
woman - same for singular and plural (e.g. a group of woman would be referred to as 'those woman')

I may be a bit out of touch with latest UK work speak, but I find TLAs and bullshit talk like 'the take home message' are used far more often than we ever would in the UK. Words such as 'robust' are so overused, it's like playing bullshit bingo; you can count that same word a dozen times a day. :curse:

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

chooks = domestic hens for eggs
digger = excavator
sav = sauvignon blanc
awesome = amazing, but used far too often :rofl:
section = domestic plot of land or garden
home kill = when a registered butcher comes to your home and kills your sheep, cows, whatever, and you get them back a week later in little labelled bags

Re: New Vocab For New Zealand
 

Just what I needed to get me in the spirit of coming home :D I now know why everyone thinks I sound rather english these days, best start adapting back to the lingo and get si starter :rofl:

Only thing is vegemite is vegemite and marmite is marmite, just both are different to UK marmite :D