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Mint — Meaning in NZ Slang

Mint: Perfect, in excellent condition, brilliant. Pronunciation: mint.

What does "Mint" mean?

"Mint" means perfect — as flawless as a coin straight from the mint. Kiwis use it for anything in top form: a second-hand car that runs like new ("she's mint, bro"), a cloudless Saturday ("mint day for it"), or a plan that comes together ("that worked out mint").

It shines brightest in the world of buying and selling — on Trade Me, "mint condition" is the highest state a second-hand item can achieve, and every Kiwi knows the gap between "mint", "pretty tidy" and "needs a bit of love" can be measured in hundreds of dollars.

"Mint" also joins the compliment ladder alongside choice and mean, and famously stars in the phrase "yeah nah she's mint" — Kiwi for "it's all good, honestly". Like most NZ praise words it's understated, which is exactly why it lands: when a Kiwi says something's mint, they mean it.

Origin

From "mint condition" — coins fresh from the mint, flawless and untouched. British and NZ slang clipped it to just "mint", and Kiwis ran with it for anything excellent: objects, plans, days, people. If it's mint, it couldn't be better.

Examples

• "How's the new-to-you ute?" "Mint. Barely a scratch on her."
• "Mint day for the beach, eh."
• "The flat's small but honestly it's mint inside."
• "How'd the interview go?" "Went mint, actually."

FAQs

What does "mint" mean in NZ slang?

"Mint" means perfect, excellent, or in flawless condition — from "mint condition", like a freshly minted coin. Kiwis use it for anything from cars to weather to plans.

What does "she's mint" mean?

"She's mint" means "it's in great shape / it's all good" — in NZ slang, objects (cars, boats, houses) are often "she". It's high praise, especially for second-hand gear.

Is mint the opposite of munted?

Pretty much — mint is flawless, munted is wrecked. Between them they describe the full life cycle of every jandal, ute and washing machine in New Zealand.

Related NZ slang: Choice | Mean as | Sweet as | Munted

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