The kiwi slang term "creek" is one such example, having been extracted from American settlers, as opposed to the term "stream" as would be used by British migrants. New Zealand is a relatively modern melting pot of languages and sayings, and saw the formation of its own dialect much later than most countries, and in some cases particular turns of phrase stuck in New Zealand, long after they were already in use elsewhere. Some aspects of kiwi slang are unique in that they exist, and are applied, with no particular historic or logical backing. In present day New Zealand, it is still common to hear agricultural terms being applied in everyday situations. As a large portion of the country's first European inhabitants were involved in farming, it was natural for certain terms to spread throughout all of society. New Zealand's agricultural beginnings are a strong and ever-present influence on kiwi slang and everyday language. Modern day kiwi slang still persists to display and use Maori words in everyday speech. During the early stages of European migration to New Zealand, when the local dialect was being formed and kiwi slang was in its infancy, the language of the local peoples was an undeniable building block. Kiwi slang is unique in that it is heavily influenced by the words used by the native Maori population, who inhabited the land before the arrival of the pakeha (Europeans). In the case of Kiwi slang, many terms can be traced back to words and sayings commonly seen in South England. As all three regions are heavily influenced by early migrant settlers, it is natural to assume that the slang and language used holds roots in another part of the world. Naturally New Zealanders have come to develop their own brand of slang, which is seen as commonplace to those in the country, while being exotic and potentially baffling to everyone else.įrom an academic perspective, Kiwi slang and New Zealand English are very similar to modern Australian English or contemporary South African English. Some researchers have suggested that the spoken language of New Zealand is independent enough to warrant being called a separate dialect of English. New Zealand has always been a nation with an eclectic mix of people and nationalities, and this mixing pot of cultures has led to the country developing its own particular way of speaking. Our purpose is to help you get your head around some of New Zealand's unique turns of phrase.
If you didn't understand the above, don't worry. But don’t go half pie, go all out eh, and earn yourself some Maori roast, a handle or some hokey pockey. After reading this, blow me down if you won’t be stoaked when it comes to speaking here. No worries bro if it looks a bit munted, she’ll be right, it’s just the way Kiwis talk in En Zed. Oh My God! Winston Churchill Received the First Ever Letter Containing “O.M.G.Why don't you go flat out, sit down with a cuppa and take a squiz at our mean as list of Kiwi slang. And, as Mental Floss notes, the site “allows lookups of word definitions and etymologies for free, and, for a well-worth-it subscription fee, it offers citations and more extensive search options.” If you’ve ever wondered about the meaning of words like kidlywink, gollier, and linthead, you now know where to begin.Ĭab Calloway’s “Hepster Dictionary,” A 1939 Glossary of the Lingo (the “Jive”) of the Harlem Renaissance Collectively, the website lets you trace the development of slang over the past 500 years.
#Dictionary of slang in new zealand free
In October, Green’s Dictionary of Slangbecame available as a free website, giving you access to an even more updated version of the dictionary. The dictionary is an attractive three-volume, hard-bound set. If you head over to, that’s how you will find Green’s Dictionary of Slang pitched to consumers. Every word and phrase is authenticated by genuine and fully-referenced citations of its use, giving the work a level of authority and scholarship unmatched by any other publication in this field.” Totaling 10.3 million words and over 53,000 entries, the collection provides the definitions of 100,000 words and over 413,000 citations. A remarkable collection of this often reviled but endlessly fascinating area of the English language, it covers slang from the past five centuries right up to the present day, from all the different English-speaking countries and regions. “The three volumes of Green’s Dictionary of Slang demonstrate the sheer scope of a lifetime of research by Jonathon Green, the leading slang lexicographer of our time.