Sweet As Tees › Blog › New Zealand Jargon — 40 Everyday Kiwi Phrases Explained
By The Sweet As Crew · — Sweet As Tees Blog
New Zealand English is its own thing. Part British, part Māori, part something else entirely. Here are 40 everyday Kiwi phrases that'll have you speaking the language in no time.
New Zealand English is a language inside a language. It borrows from British English, incorporates significant te reo Māori vocabulary, adds a distinct accent, and then invents a whole layer of slang that exists nowhere else. If you've arrived in New Zealand — or you're a Kiwi expat who needs to explain yourself to international friends — here are 40 everyday phrases with no-nonsense translations.
For the full dictionary, head to our NZ Slang Guide. This is the highlights package.
Sweet as — Great, perfect, no problem. The all-purpose sign of approval. "We're leaving at 8." — "Sweet as."
Yeah nah — No. Delivered with a sympathetic softening. "Want to come?" — "Yeah nah, I'm good."
Nah yeah — Yes, actually. The surprise affirmative. "Was it good?" — "Nah yeah, it was awesome."
Chur — Thank you, cheers, or general acknowledgement. "Chur, bro" is the full form, but "chur" works on its own. Derived from Māori, adopted across NZ.
Hard out — Completely agree, or at maximum intensity. "That was brutal." — "Hard out." Also: "I'm hard out tired."
Mint — Excellent. "How was the game?" — "Mint." High praise, short word.
Mean as — Really impressive or very good. Mean in New Zealand does not mean unkind here. "That haka was mean as" = that haka was incredible.
She'll be right — It'll be fine, don't worry, everything will sort itself out. The great Kiwi reassurance and national philosophy in three words.
Stoked — Extremely happy or excited. "I'm so stoked we got tickets."
Kia ora — Hello, thank you, and general goodwill expression. Māori origin, used universally across NZ.
How's it going? — Standard greeting. The correct response is "good thanks, you?" Detailed answers are not required.
What's the story? — A greeting. Interchangeable with "what's happening?" or "what's up?"
Choice (as exclamation) — Excellent, great, perfect. "Just found a park." — "Choice!"
Cheers — Thank you, goodbye, or toast when drinking. One of the most versatile words in NZ English.
Good as gold — Everything is sorted and fine. "Is 3pm okay?" — "Good as gold."
Bro / Bro — A universal term of address used across genders and relationships. Can be used seriously or sarcastically.
Mate — Friend, pal. Used constantly in address: "Cheers, mate."
Bloke — Man, guy. Not necessarily a specific person — "some bloke" = some random guy.
Sheila — Somewhat old-fashioned term for a woman. Still used, less common.
Whanau / Whānau — Family, extended family, community. Māori word fully integrated into NZ English.
Bach (pronounced "batch") — A simple holiday home at the beach or lake. Quintessential NZ.
Dairy — A corner store/convenience shop. "I'll just grab it from the dairy."
Jandals — Flip flops. This word is not up for debate.
Togs — Swimwear. "Chuck on your togs, we're going for a dip."
Going bush — Going into the wilderness. Also going off-grid socially.
Tramping — Hiking/trekking. "We're going tramping on the weekend."
Barbie — Barbecue. A fundamental Kiwi cooking method and social occasion.
Cuppa — Cup of tea. Refusing one offered by a New Zealander is a mild social transgression.
Pav — Pavlova. The essential NZ dessert (yes, it's ours, not Australia's).
Kai — Food. Māori word used universally. "Time for kai."
Gutted — Disappointed or devastated. "The team lost." — "Ah, gutted."
Munted — Broken, ruined, or very tired/drunk. "That fence is completely munted."
Stuffed — Very tired, or broken. "I'm absolutely stuffed" = I'm exhausted.
Heaps — A lot. "Heaps of people" = many people. "Thanks heaps" = thank you very much.
Reckon — Think or believe. "I reckon that's the best fish and chips in town."
Keen — Enthusiastic or willing. "Are you keen?" = are you interested/up for it?
Crack up — Something that makes you laugh uncontrollably. "That was such a crack up."
🥝 Wear the Lingo
The slang deserves to be worn. Our NZ Slang Map Tee packs the lingo into one design — plus the Kiwi Bird Slang Tee for the real heads. Browse all Kiwi t-shirts →
Tags: NZ slang, Kiwi jargon, New Zealand phrases, NZ language