List of New Zealand words and phrases

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New Zealand English refers to the English accent spoken in New Zealand . As in many English languages, peculiarities such as own words and expressions have developed over time.

This is a list of such words and phrases as you might hear in everyday life in New Zealand. However, some of these examples can also be heard in Australia.

Typical New Zealand words

  • arvo : afternoon, colloquial, but is also used e.g. B. used in weather reports: "Heavy rain tomorrow arvo!"
  • bach : a small holiday home, usually close to the beach, often with just one or two rooms and simply constructed. Pronounced like 'batch' . Possibly the word goes back to the Cymric (Welsh, Celtic language spoken in Wales), in which bach has the meaning of 'small'. A second widely accepted explanation is that it is a bachelor's house that was converted into a holiday home after the marriage and the move to a larger family house.
  • bugger! : "Crap!" Or "bastard!", Sometimes positive, you little bugger!
  • Cheers or Cheers mate! : “Thank you”, “Thank you, buddy!” At every opportunity, to the bus driver when getting off, etc. Colloquial! Also widespread in Australia.
  • chip , punnet or pottle : (depending on the region) the unit in which strawberries are sold
  • crib : another word for bach , often in the south of the South Island needed
  • dairy : literally 'milk shop', stands for the mom and pop shop around the corner, always open, almost always in Indian hands
  • The Ditch : Tasman Sea ; literally: "the ditch" (which separates New Zealand and Australia)
  • eh (stressed like in the English way ) at the end of a sentence instead of isn't it to underline the meaning of the sentence, or instead of pardon? when you have not understood your counterpart
  • flatting : live together, a shared flat form
  • good as gold : great, just right
  • Hokey Pokey : Ice cream that is only available in New Zealand and Australia
  • jandals : Flip-flops, short for Japanese Sandals - the universal, all-weather “shoe” for all seasons and both sexes. However, walking barefoot is almost as popular.
  • OE or Big OE : overseas experience; What is meant is a time spent abroad (mostly in Europe and mostly for work) (short for Overseas Experience ).
  • Pavlova : Dessert made from meringue , whipped cream and fruit, traditionally with strawberries, peach wedges, passion fruit and / or kiwi fruit. This dessert was allegedly created in honor of the ballet dancer Anna Pavlovna Pavlova in 1926 on the occasion of her tour in Wellington. However, the Australians dispute the authorship of the New Zealanders and claim that the recipe was invented in Perth.
  • Private Bag : often addresses large companies or organizations to place name for mailbox ( PO Box )
  • sweet as : "Great", "OK", "no problem", "no issue", "all right", "I understand", "sounds good", "I'm with you" etc.
  • ta! : "Thank you!" Even closer than Cheers . If you really want to say thank you, you should use Thank you (very much) .
  • WOF / Warrant : Certificate of roadworthiness of motor vehicles, comparable to the German TÜV badge (short for Warrant of Fitness )

Words of the Māori language

Particularly since the strengthening of the Māori language , even more words from their language have found their way into the vocabulary of New Zealand English. The extent to which these words are used may depend on their closeness to the Māori culture. However, these words are known to every New Zealander, whether Pākehā or Māori.

Some of them are:

  • kia ora : "Hello!" (literally: "Be healthy!")
  • hāngi : A specific way of preparing food in an earth oven
  • iwi : trunk
  • marae : Land or village square on which a traditional meeting house stands
  • Pākehā : Non-Māori, especially New Zealanders with European ancestry. The origin and translation of the word are uncertain.
  • whānau : family, clan
  • kōrero : conversation, discussion
  • hui : meeting
  • kōhanga reo : Preschool for learning the Māori language (literally "language nest")
  • mana : A combination of authority, integrity, power and prestige (also used in English)
  • haka : a war dance made famous by the New Zealand national rugby team , the All Blacks , performing it before every game to intimidate their opponents.

Other Māori words are understood by most New Zealanders, but are rarely used in everyday language.

Examples are:

  • aroha : love, affection
  • haere mai : "Welcome"
  • hapū : familial (also: pregnant)
  • ka pai : Great, good, well done, that works
  • kai : food
  • tangi : to mourn or a mourning ceremony in a marae
  • taniwha : sea monster (mythical creature)
  • tapu : holy, consecrated, taboo
  • Te Reo : the (Māori) language (literally: "the tongue", "the voice")
  • tohunga : priest, shaman, medicine man
  • wairua : mind, spiritual essence
  • whakapapa : origin, descent

New Zealanders also refer to the Māori as a people and in the plural as 'Māori', not as 'Māoris'. Few Māori words have any other plural form.

literature

  • Harry W. Orsman: Heinemann New Zealand Dictionary. Heinemann Educational Books, Auckland 1979, ISBN 0868633739 .
  • Harry W. Orsman, Simon Cauchi: The Dictionary of New Zealand English. A dictionary of New Zealandisms on historical Principles. Oxford University Press, Auckland 1997, ISBN 0195583477 .
  • Harry W. Orsman: A Dictionary of Modern New Zealand Slang. Oxford University Press, Auckland 1999, ISBN 0195584082 .
  • Harry W. Orsman, Nelson Wattie: The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand English. Reed, Auckland 2001, ISBN 0790007525 .
  • Tony Deverson: The New Zealand Oxford Primary School Dictionary. Oxford University Press, Auckland 2003, ISBN 0195584619 .
  • Tony Deverson: The New Zealand Pocket Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press, Auckland 2005, ISBN 0195584821 .
  • John Macalister: A Dictionary of Māori Words in New Zealand English. Oxford University Press, Auckland 2005, ISBN 0195584953 .