Aotearoa – New Zealand is not just known for its breathtaking landscapes and unique wildlife, but also for its colourful, quirky slang. These casual phrases and expressions are part of everyday Kiwi life and can leave visitors puzzled — but in the best way! This guide will help you speak like a local and decode what those friendly folk are really saying.
A Personal Note from Us
We’ve both had a fair few laughs watching international friends try to make sense of our slang — from calling gumboots “Red Bands” to throwing around “sweet as” for anything good. It’s not just language — it’s culture. And once you start using it, you’ll find it’s a pretty “choice” way to communicate!
What Makes Kiwi Slang So Unique?
Kiwi slang blends Māori, British, and Aussie influences with good old-fashioned Kiwi humour. It often reflects our relaxed lifestyle, love of the outdoors, and strong sense of community. Some words have surprising meanings; others will just crack you up. Learning a few phrases before you arrive — or while you’re here — can help you feel more at home.
🗣️ Te Reo and Local Lingo – A Cultural Mix
Many Kiwi slang terms have roots in te reo Māori, while others come from the farming, surfing, or tradie worlds. Aotearoa is a multilingual country, so it’s natural for these influences to blend into our everyday speech. Words like kai (food), tū meke (awesome), and ow (a friendly way to say “you”) are just part of the everyday rhythm here.
Table of Contents
🧾 Top 40 Kiwi Slang Words You’ll Hear
Here’s a list of 40 common Kiwi slang words and phrases you might hear on your travels:
- Kiwi: Means a New Zealander
- Bach: A holiday home, often by the beach or lake.
- Dairy: A local convenience store or corner shop.
- Carked It: Died
- Sweet as: Cool or awesome; used to express that something is good.
- Bro: Short for brother, but used to address friends or peers.
- Tiki Tour: Going for a drive or a look somewhere
- Togs: Swimsuit or swimming trunks.
- Cuppa: A cup of tea or coffee.
- Hard out: For sure or I agree
- Squizz: To take a look or glance at something.
- Wop-wops: An informal term for a remote area, far from the city.
- Jandals: Flip Flops
- Lolly: Sweets or Candy
- Ow: Multiple meanings depending on how you say it or use it. Bro, You, Whatever, Stink one.
- Sammie: Sandwich
- Bit of a dag: a person who is a bit cheeky or mischievous, but in a loving way.
- Crack-ups: This translates to funny
- Tu Meke: This is a Māori word and translates to ‘too much’
- Hard Case: Funny Guy
- Not Even Ow: Not true bro
- To Much: Awesome
- Skux: Good looking person
- Judder Bars: Speed Bump
- Duvet: A blanket or Comforter
- Nek Minit: Next Minute
- Yeah Nah Yeah: Not really sure
- Heaps: A lot
- Suss it Out: Sort it out
- Pakeha: People living in Aotearoa of British/European origin
- Chur Bro: Thank you, hello, no worries
- Chuddy: Chewing Gum
- A Muppet: An Idiot
- Eh: Pronounced “A’’ can mean What or Huh
- Chips: What many others would call french fries; crisps for potato chips.
- Choice. Great, excellent or awesome
- Lemonade: This is a fizzy drink known as Sprite.
- Whatever: Who cares
- Chilly bin: A cooler or insulated box to keep food and drinks cold.
- Munted: Usually drunk but can mean Ruined
🎙️ Speaking Like a Local
Using Kiwi slang isn’t just about sounding cool — it’s a way of connecting. When you greet someone with a casual “Chur bro” or say a meal was “choice as” you’re showing respect for local culture. Even if you don’t get it perfect, Kiwis will love your effort. Go on, give it a bash!
Keen to discover more homegrown stories?
Explore our Everything Kiwi collection — a celebration of Aotearoa’s artists, creators and storytellers who keep the spirit of our whenua alive.
👉 Read more on our Everything Kiwi page.
🌍 Travel Planning Resources
These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your Tohu guide you — Trust the Journey and follow what feels right for you.
- ✈️Flights – Compare great deals with Trip.com then Kiwi.com for flexible, affordable options.
- 🚐 Campervans – Compare rental deals with Motorhome Republic across Aotearoa and beyond.
- 🛏️ Stays – Compare hotels on Trip.com and TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
- 🚐 Rental Cars – Compare prices and book through Airport Rentals by Motorhome Republic for trusted brands and easy airport pickup.
- 🎟️ Activities – Browse tours and experiences on Viator, Get Your Guide, or TripAdvisor
- 🚆12Go Asia – Compare and book trains, buses, and ferries across Asia in one place with 12Go.
- 🛡️ Travel Insurance – Get flexible short-term coverage with Insubuy for your next holiday.
- 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with a VPN – We recommend Surfshark VPN for secure and private browsing while travelling. It’s fast, affordable and works worldwide — perfect for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes and hotels.
- 📱 Travel eSIM – Stay connected with Airalo
- 💼 Lounge Access – Treat yourself with Priority Pass – for UK or US
- 🎶 Events & Concerts – Book tickets worldwide through Ticketmaster.
🧭 Note: Some booking links can be a bit shy when you’re using a VPN. If one doesn’t open, try pausing your VPN or switching to a different server location or secure Wi-Fi network to get things flowing again.
Kei ā koe!
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