You won’t necessarily hear the following phrases every day, but occasionally Kiwis use words and phrases that can sound a little strange to the uninitiated. Here are some common Kiwi colloquialisms and what they mean.
Greetings and expressions
Gidday or g’day: Kiwi greeting - hello
Cheers: Thanks or goodbye
Bit of a dag: Funny
She'll be right: Everything will be OK
Choice: Great, brilliant
Sweet as: Not a problem, or “absolutely fine”.
People
Kiwi: New Zealander, kiwi fruit or kiwi dollar
Mate, bro, cuz: Friend
Chick: Woman
Bloke: Man
Food and beverage
Spuds: Potatoes
Handle: A large glass of beer
Bring a plate: Bring a plate of food to share
Places
Wop-wops: Country
Bach: Holiday home (pronounced batch)
Tiki tour: Scenic tour, roundabout way
Dairy: Corner store, convenience store
Clothing
Jandals: Flip flops, thongs
Singlet: Vest, undergarment
Togs: Swimsuit
Jumper: Sweater, jersey
Sunnies: Sunglasses
There you go. Learn this list and you’re on your way to communicating with the kiwis – get the accent down and you might even pass for one!