The Little Things: Kiwi English

As life calms down for us here in New Zealand, we thought it would be a good idea to take time now and then to share with everyone some of the day-to-day differences with which we're learning to cope. What better place to start than with launguage? All the different words and phrases - on top of the Kiwi dialect - have made for some interesting and funny misunderstandings since we've been here. So presented to you, in standard textbook vocabulary form, is a rather extensive list of the language differences we've picked up on:


Phrases and Greetings:
Cheers: Thank you, Goodbye, Hello (The all-purpose word)
Mate: all purpose pronoun for anyone, anywhere, anytime
Bloody: all purpose curse
Sweet as...: Used more often than the American "cool," "sweet as" can mean anything. It seems mandatory that it be included in every other sentence. I bet "sweet as" is in the Kiwi national anthem. Sweet as... what exactly?
Good on ya: Good for you
You're on to it: You understand, you get it
Knock off: clock out, go home
Small beer: not a big deal - this will often appear in the national paper
Arse over tit: head over heels
Bugger all: nothing, none
Pissed: drunk
Ta: Thanks
Choice: good
Get off the grass: stop kidding me
Jack up: to organize, as in 'I'll see if I can jack something up'
Pissing down: raining heavy
Rattle your dags: move it, hurry up
Yonks: a long time, ages
Boohai: the boondocks

At Home:
Loo: toilet
Bathroom: just a bath, no toilet
Unfurnished apartment: no heat, no a/c, no fridge, just four walls and plumbing
Rubber: an eraser
Pot Plant: house plant (yeah.)
Fart sack: bed (I couldn't make this up)

Around Town:
Bottle Shop: liquor store
Chemist: Pharmacy / Drug Store (I asked for the drug store and was directed to the bottle shop!)
Dairy Bar: Conveniece Store
Lift: Elevator
Domain: a public park
Cashpoint: ATM
Eftpos: Debit transaction or Debit card

Food:
Spirits: Alcohol
Schooner: A pint of beer
Jug: A pitcher of beer
Stubbie: a bottle of beer
Glass: Not very much beer
Flagoon: 2 liters of tap beer from the bottle shop
Yard: your own personal tap, with a reservouir a yard high
Capsicum: Green and bell peppers
Chips: French Fries
Chippies: Chips
Tomato Sauce: Ketchup (except with odd spices and too much sugar)
Mayo: runny, translucent, white substance to be avoided at all costs
Filled Roll: a hoagie or sub
Salad: lettuce, tomato and beetroot (why beetroot?) for your filled roll
Mixed Greens: a tossed salad
Rockamelon: Cantelope
Mash: mashed potatoes
Hokey-pokey: an NZ original ice cream flavor, used as a generic term for all ice cream
Sultana: Raisin
Courgette: zuchini
Biscuit: a cookie
Muesli: Granola (Kiwis eat a LOT of muesli)
Prawns: shrimp
Pie: usually contains meat, usually mince
Mince: the mystery meat they serve at Taco Bell

At the Restaurant:
Till: cash register
Entree: Appetizer
Main: Entree
Chilly Bin: Cooler
Serviette: Napkin
Cutlery: they have no idea what silverwear is
Take-away: 'to go' is not understood

Others:
Fag: a cigarette
Row: a fight
Brolly: Umbrella
Nappy: diaper
Togs: swimsuit
Jangles: flip-flops
Petrol: Gasoline
Rubbish: Trash (used in every way we'd use Trash - i.e. "He rubbished you to his friends." Wierd.)
Tramping: Hiking
Bush: The woods
Boot: Trunk (as in car)
Bonnet: Hood
Fortnight: Two weeks
Give Way: Yield
Zed: the letter "Z" of the alphabet