Understanding Kiwi

As a public service to all those wayward Americans who may stumble into New Zealand, I offer some assistance in understanding the Kiwi language.  “What?” you say.  Don’t they speak English?  Well… not really.  

After almost 5 months of listening, we think we understand what they are saying and have actually started to speak Kiwi without thinking about it.  Certain phrases like ‘No worries’ and “sweet as’ easily roll off the tongue and fit well with the laid back cruiser lifestyle that we’ve grown into.  While other terms like ordering a “flat white” or deciding whether ‘petrol’ or ‘gas’ go into the rental car can be life or death matters.

In any event, we do like this country and offer the following in hopes that your first few days here will be less confusing than ours were.  Just remember if in a restaurant, don’t ask for a nappy…

Tom

American English           Kiwi

Round Trip Ticket             Return ticket

Gas                                  Petrol

Propane                            Gas

Dinner                              Tea (sometimes used when dining at a person’s home)

Tea                                  A cuppa

Fillet Mignon                     Eye Fillet (pronounce the final t)

Lobster                            Crayfish

Local clams                       Pipis

French Fries                     Chips

Chips                                CrispsCookies Biscuits or bickies

Candy                               Lollies

Catsup                              Tomato sauce (the New Zealand variety is watery and sweet… yuck!)                                                                 

Bell pepper                        Capsicum

Sweet potato                     Kumara

Romaine lettuce                  Cos

Café au lait (more or less)   Flat white

Black coffee                      Long black

Appetizer or starter           Entrée

Entrée                               Main

Flip flops                           Jandels

Girls basketball                  Netball

American Football              Grid Iron

Lots                                  Heaps

Good for you                     Good on ya

Sweet, or great                 Sweet as

No problem                        Good as or no worries

No sweat                           Easy As

Cooler                               Chilly bin

The letter Z                      Zed

Parking lot                         Car park

Thanks                              Ta

Hood                                Bonnet

Trunk                               Boot

Flashlight                         Torch

Pharmacist                       Chemist

Mini-mart                         Dairy

To go or take out (food)           Takeaway

Bangs (referencing a haircut)    Fringe

Napkin                               Serviette

Diaper                               Nappy

Two consecutive weeks       Fortnight

Sweater                            Jumper

Freeway                            Motorway

Auto body shop                  Panel Beater

Slip (in the marina)             Berth