kiwicabulary.

   It is a widely accepted notion that the New Zealand accent holds a unique appeal to women in America and I am here to tell you, as a newly experienced Kiwi traveler, that I would never dispute this perception. However, something perhaps more intriguing than their linguistical twists is their adorable idiosyncratic interpretations of vocabulary. While I could never fully express all the discrepancies, below lies a complied list of my favorites- a list I will affectionately refer to as Kiwicabulary.

 

[ My favorite Kiwis & inspiration for this blog: Andrew & Jess.]

 

The format is as follows: Kiwi word-=American translation.

Jersey= Sweater
Sunnies= Sunglasses

Mozzys= Mosquitoes

Moe’s= Mustaches (awesome!!!)

Togs= Bathing Suit

Alaminium= Aluminum

Cotton buds= Qtips

Fizzy Drink= Soda

Plats= Braids

Serviette= Napkin

Cruisey = Chill

Heaps= A lot

Carved= Killed it

Skulled= Chugged

Making Plays= to hit on

Keen= you down?

Down Buzz= Buzz Kill or Downer

Sweet as= Cool

Choice= Cool

Rubbish= Trash

Garigde= Garage

Tomato Sauce= Ketchup

Petrol= Gas

Uni= College

Lollie= Candy

The Haps= The plan

Barbie= Barbeque

Straight Away=now/ right away

Stitch= Cramp

Have a go= to try

Ages= long time/long way away

Quite= Really

Mate= Friend

Aye= right?

I can’t be bothered= I don’t feel like it/ I don’t want to.

 

However my ultimate favorite word is JANDLES which, of course, means flip flops.

Please allow me to use a few words in a sentence to better display their true wonder….

 

Kiwi- ” Hey mum my jandles are in the garidge, aye?

Translation- “Hey mom my flip flops are in the garage, aren’t they?”

 

Kiwi- ” You keen for a fizzy drink?”

Translation- “Hey you want a soda?”

 

Kiwi- “This week has been quite cruisey, I can’t be bothered going to class.”

Translation- ” It’s been a super chill week, and I don’t feel like going to class.”

 

Kiwi- “That song is sweet as.”

Translation- “That song is cool.”

 

Kiwi- “Thanks heaps guys.”

Translation- “Thanks a lot guys.”

 

Ok, I’ll stop. Although, I could go on for ages. Hope you enjoyed my brief Kiwi jargon lesson.