What does "stoked" mean in New Zealand?

"Stoked" means really pleased, thrilled or delighted. Originally surf slang (stoking the fire of excitement), it's now everyday NZ English for genuine happiness.

Is "stoked" only a New Zealand word?

No — it's shared surf-culture slang heard in Australia, the US and beyond. But it's thoroughly at home in NZ, often boosted Kiwi-style to "stoked as".

What's the opposite of stoked in NZ slang?

"Gutted" — deeply disappointed. Between them, stoked and gutted cover the entire Kiwi emotional range.

Sweet As Tees › NZ Slang › Stoked

Stoked — Meaning in NZ Slang

Stoked: Really pleased, thrilled, delighted. Pronunciation: stohkt.

What does "Stoked" mean?

"Stoked" means genuinely delighted — the warm, fired-up happiness of good news. Got the job? Stoked. Team won? Stoked. Mate's coming home from London for Christmas? Stoked as. It's one of the most sincere words in Kiwi slang; nobody says stoked ironically.

The word literally means fed with fuel, like a fire — and that's exactly the feeling it describes. In New Zealand it long ago escaped its surfing origins: farmers are stoked about rain, students are stoked about passing, grandmas are stoked about visits. Add the Kiwi intensifier for "stoked as", or go "hard out stoked" for maximum delight.

It also does gracious very well: "so stoked for you, bro" is how Kiwis celebrate someone else's win, and "we're just stoked to be here" is the traditional humble answer of every NZ sports team that's ever made a final.

Origin

"Stoked" spread from 1960s surf culture — to stoke a fire is to feed it, and surfers used it for the fire of excitement a good wave lights in you. It rode the surf circuit into New Zealand, where it settled permanently into everyday speech for any kind of delight, wave-related or not.

Examples

"Got into the flat we wanted — absolutely stoked."
"She was stoked with her exam results."
"Stoked for you, bro, you've worked hard out for this."
"How do you feel about making the final?" "Yeah, stoked to be here, eh."

FAQs

What does "stoked" mean in New Zealand?: "Stoked" means really pleased, thrilled or delighted. Originally surf slang (stoking the fire of excitement), it's now everyday NZ English for genuine happiness.
Is "stoked" only a New Zealand word?: No — it's shared surf-culture slang heard in Australia, the US and beyond. But it's thoroughly at home in NZ, often boosted Kiwi-style to "stoked as".
What's the opposite of stoked in NZ slang?: "Gutted" — deeply disappointed. Between them, stoked and gutted cover the entire Kiwi emotional range.

Related NZ slang: Sweet as | Keen | Gutted | Mean as

Wear "Stoked" on a tee — NZD$44.99

Full NZ Slang Dictionary | Shop Kiwi Slang T-Shirts