What are togs in New Zealand?

Togs are swimwear — any kind, for anyone. It's the standard NZ word for what you swim in, from board shorts to bikinis.

Where does the word togs come from?

It's very old English slang for clothes, ultimately tracing back to the Latin "toga". New Zealand kept the word and narrowed it to mean swimwear specifically.

What's the difference between togs and undies?

As a beloved NZ ad established: proximity to water. The same garment is togs at the beach and undies at the supermarket.

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Togs — Meaning in NZ Slang

Togs: Swimwear — what you wear for a swim, whatever the style. Pronunciation: togz (always plural).

What does "Togs" mean?

"Togs" is the universal New Zealand word for swimwear — bikini, board shorts, one-piece, budgie smugglers, all of it. "Chuck your togs in the bag" is the standard summons to any Kiwi summer activity, and no New Zealander has ever said "swimsuit" without feeling slightly weird about it.

The word is ancient — old English slang for clothing that sailed south and stayed. In NZ it locked onto swimwear specifically, and a famous New Zealand ad later immortalised the sacred distinction between "togs" and "undies": the difference, the ad ruled, is proximity to water. Near a pool? Togs. In a supermarket? Undies.

Togs are core Kiwi childhood vocabulary: school swimming sports, togs drying on the bach railing, the horror of forgetting your togs on the one hot day of term. If you're in New Zealand between November and March, keep togs within reach at all times.

Origin

"Togs" comes from an old English slang word for clothes (via "togeman", thieves' cant for a coat, ultimately from the Latin "toga"). While Britain mostly dropped it, New Zealand kept it and narrowed it specifically to swimwear — one of those old words that survived at the bottom of the world long after fading elsewhere.

Examples

"Grab your togs, we're heading to the river."
"I forgot my togs so I just paddled."
"Togs, towel, sunscreen, chilly bin — right, we're off."
"New togs for the summer? Flash as."

FAQs

What are togs in New Zealand?: Togs are swimwear — any kind, for anyone. It's the standard NZ word for what you swim in, from board shorts to bikinis.
Where does the word togs come from?: It's very old English slang for clothes, ultimately tracing back to the Latin "toga". New Zealand kept the word and narrowed it to mean swimwear specifically.
What's the difference between togs and undies?: As a beloved NZ ad established: proximity to water. The same garment is togs at the beach and undies at the supermarket.

Related NZ slang: Jandals | Bach | Sweet as | Keen

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