New Zealand and Australian Slang and Vocabulary

A collection of vocabulary terms covering New Zealand (Kiwi) and Australian (Aussie) slang, cultural terms, and workplace terminology.

arvo

afternoon

brekkie

breakfast

chur

thanks/cheers

sweet as

great/awesome

heaps

a lot / very

suss

check out / investigate

dairy

corner shop/convenience store

jandals

flip-flops

togs

swimsuit / swimwear

bach

holiday house

chilly bin

cooler/ice box

choice

excellent/great

keen

interested/willing

mate

friend/person

bro

friend / mate

yeah nah

polite or indirect no

nah yeah

yes/agreement

good as gold

all good/fine

she'll be right

it will be okay

no worries

you're welcome / no problem

ta

thanks

cuppa

cup of tea

tea

dinner / evening meal

kai

food

whānau

extended family / family

mana

prestige/authority

kia ora

hello/thanks/greeting

tēnā koutou

greeting to a group

ka pai

good/well done

munted

broken/damaged

knackered

very tired

buggered

very tired/exhausted

stuffed

very tired/full

ruckus

noisy disturbance

dodgy

suspicious/unreliable

hard out

very/strongly

skite

boast

dag

funny or quirky person

egg

silly person

gumboots

rubber boots

scarfie

student

mainlander

person from New Zealand's South Island

CBD

central business district

flat

shared rental home

rego

vehicle registration

WOF

vehicle safety inspection

ute

pickup truck

servo

service station / gas station

tramping

hiking

track

hiking trail

bush

native forest

taonga

treasured thing / treasure

puku

belly/stomach

hangi

traditional earth-oven meal

pākehā

New Zealander of European descent

Aotearoa

New Zealand

kiwi

New Zealander

barbie

barbecue

bathers

swimsuit

thongs

flip-flops

esky

cooler/ice box

tradie

tradesperson

ambo

ambulance officer

firies

firefighters

coppa

police officer

Macca's

McDonald's

bogan

rough unsophisticated person

ripper

excellent

beaut

excellent / great

bloody

very intensifier

reckon

think / believe

stuff-all

almost nothing

fair dinkum

genuine / serious

crikey

expression of surprise

bloke

man/guy

sheila

woman; can sound dated

footy

football/rugby/AFL

sunnies

sunglasses

brolly

umbrella

mozzie

mosquito

eftpos

card payment system

paywave

contactless card payment

flat white

espresso coffee with steamed milk

smoko

short work break

FOH

front of house

BOH

back of house

86

out of stock/unavailable

stoked

very happy/excited

gutted

very disappointed

hard yakka

hard work

chuck a sickie

pretend to be sick to miss work

stat day

public holiday; comes with extra pay

annual leave

paid holiday leave

flat out like a lizard

extremely busy