During the past couple of weeks through my conversations with my students at school, my homestay family, and being emerged in the country I have realized New Zealand has its own slang. Although Kiwis speak english they have many different words and saying that differ from the united states. As I am learning to be a kiwi over here in the pacific islands, I figured I would help my friends and family in on a little slang over here on the island. On the left are the US version of words and on the right is the Kiwi terms.
Clothes pins- clothes pegs
flip flops-jandels
swimming suit-togs
tennis shoes- gym shoes
sunglasses-sunnies
cooler- chilly bin
think about it-have a think about it
sun chair- lounger
candy- lollies
popsicles- ice blocks
cookies/brownies/sweets- biscuits
buoy-boy
z- zed
forest- bush
vacation- holiday
hiking- trekking
zipline- flying fox
fanny packs- bum bags
lawn- garden
ill pay for you- my shout
morning tea- recess/ snack
water bottle- drink bottle
trash- rubbish
trash bin- rubbish bin
bathroom/restroom- toilet
pee- wee
elementary school- primary school
middle school- intermediate school
college- university/uni
high school- college
french fries- hot chips
carbonated drinks- fizzies
sprite- lemonade
anything close to lemonade (they don't have lemonade over here)- raro
lettuce on a burger- salad
cool- flash
bro- mate
cool/sweet- sweet as
pick up truck- ute
gas- petrol
good for you- good on you
math-maths
pen/pencil/anything you write with- stationary
eraser- rubber
large- magnum
grades- marking
marker- felt
edit-rework
rain boots- gumboots
I don't want to do something- I can't be bothered
cleats- bouts
shovel- spade
trunk-boot
convenience store- Dairy
Cramp- stitch
