
I’m a bit of a logophile. A word nerd, if you will. I like interesting words. I’m also a New Zealander (Kiwi). That means I talk differently to most of my readers.
For quite some time I’ve been sharing some of my nerdy word finds on social media. A bit of a non-health-related quirk. And then, early this year I’ve received some feedback that you would like to see more colloquial words and expressions in my word shares.
Happy to oblige, I started doing just this – sharing Aussie and Kiwi words and expressions. For the fun of it. And, so that if you ever visit, we’ll understand each other!
But first some background…
I am a Kiwi. As in I hail from New Zealand, that teeny-tiny country at the bottom of the world. The one with circa 5 million people and around 27 million sheep. Famous for our rugby team, A2 milk, Lord of the Rings, and Sir Edmund Hilary. It’s pretty picturesque. It does rain a bit, though.
People say we talk funny. We shorten our vowels and are known for saying ‘sex’ when we say ‘six’.
I live in Australia, that rather large island about 2,154 kilometres (or 1,342 miles) to the west of wee New Zealand. Australia is vast but relatively unpopulated with 25 million people (and, around 66 million sheep). It is the 6th largest country in the world. Famous for the Sydney Opera House, kangaroos and koalas, Great Barrier Reef and poisonous spiders.
People say Aussies talk funny, too. Aussies like to abbreviate – thus, Sharon becomes Shazza, service station becomes servo’, and afternoon becomes arvo’.
Aussies and Kiwis are like Americans and Canadians. People think we’re the same, but really we’re quite different.
And now, How to speak down under!
You beaut

Ripper

Knackered

Rip your nightie

She’ll be right

Yeah, nah

Ka Pai

TRAMPING

Squizz

CHUR

Mate’s Rates

Dead set

Fair Dinkum

Cactus

BLOODY

Bring a plate

Sweet As

- thanks
- that’s okay
- \no worries
- you’re welcome
- nice one
- congratulations, and
- that’s awesome.
See what I mean by versatile? 99% of the time when a Kiwi says, “sweet as”, it will be accompanied with a grin, too.
whānau

Tāne Mahuta

Nuddy

Good as gold

“Let’s knock the bastard off”

You’re such an egg

Bowl Round

Box of fluffies

Buggered

Mare

Schwellenangst

BUMFUZZLE

Back of Bourke
