Talk:New Zealand words

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[edit] Not unique

Sorry to tell you but chip and punnet are also used in Ireland and UK. ww2censor 03:37, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

thanks, will move'm. Kahuroa 04:36, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Jafa

Reverted the addition of this term, for the same old reasons as before when it came up in other articles. There are only two possible reasons to include the word here: (1) to put down Aucklanders, (2) make the rest of New Zealand look as if they have a chip on their shoulder - neither of which seems to promote the goals of Wikipedia Kahuroa 04:53, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

  • I have to disagree. Aucklanders also refer to themselves as jafas. If scarfies are here Jafas should be to. Besides how does showing words which put down people constrast the goals of wikipedia? see Chav as one example
  • I disagree too. The point of Wikipedia is to establish the facts - if this is a term that people use, however much it's not liked, it should still be in there as an objective record - maybe with a note that it is seen by some as a put down term (though that's pretty obvious from the derivation!) Keithuk 04:47, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Tinny: Cannabis only?

"tinny - slang a tinfoil wrap containing an illegal drug, sold at a tinny house" I think a "tinny" only contains cannabis. And it is definately not always sold at a tinny house. So perhaps this should read: "tinny - slang a tinfoil wrap containing cannabis, often sold at a tinny house" Dailyenglish 07:22, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Runholder

What is a "runholder", please? === Vernon White (talk)

[edit] Spelling of eoh; eoa; au

Another common spelling is "aue." 60.234.135.170 12:30, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

  • "Aue" is a completely different word. It's an interjection used in many Polynesian languages eg. the Tongan: "Aue," "Oiaue."

[edit] Some corrections and questions

On a recent visit to NZ I came across the term 'Manchester' which seems to mean bed linen or perhaps cotton goods. I think this deserves a listing if true. I can't find reference anywhere.

The following are I think derived from elsewhere and therefore should have (as in UK) or (as in US) added:

crook (some English dialects use this for 'ill' though not standard English)

have someone on (UK)

rubber (UK)

ta (UK)

domain (Australia in this usage)

boondocks (American, derived from a Tagalog (filipino) word for mountains according to Merriam-Webster)

Also kiwi is used in UK - but no doubt originated in NZ

Also may be worth noting that 'bach' derives from 'bachelor'

Keithuk 04:42, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

Yes, that's Manchester alright. (Although Manchester is also used in Victoria, Australia). Crook can also mean ill in Victoria, Australia. RB30DE 09:09, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Egg/Eggburger/Spoon

I still hear "Egg" used, I still use "Spoon" myself, and occasionally "Eggburger", which was pretty common in the late 80's early 90's in the Manawatu. I think "Eggburger" was popularised (coined?) by the TV show "Funny Business" - Dean Butler, Willy de Wit, Ian Harcourt, Peter Murphy, Alison Wall, Lucy Lawless et al. One of the four bogans was called Clint, and he'd always fuck something up, ending with the others saying "Clint you eggburger!". RB30DE 09:09, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Some changes and additions (from a New Zealander/Kiwi)

Terms that are already there:

  • "Tu meke" means "to be startled" not "great" as mentioned here. It is often confused with, and therefore used with the same meaning as "too much."
  • Rubber is sometimes used in colloquial usage to mean condom. Eg. "You got any rubbers, bro?"
  • Scab is short for scavenger. In the 80s they were used interchangeably.
  • I have never heard "choice" used to mean great idea. Choice is an adjective used in the same way as "cool" eg. "that's choice," "your car's pretty choice," "it was choice fun, eh?" It uses the meaning of choice as "the best" as in common English "choice cuts of meat" ie. the best quality cuts of meat.
  • Dag is used mostly only by older people.
  • Hardcase is usually but not always a person. Also used to describe a situation eg. "that was hardcase" meaning "that was funny."
  • "Eh" possibly comes from Scottish influence ("aye"), as is the case with the Canadian "eh."

Other NZisms:

  • Bloody - slang Used like "damn" ("bloody flies") or as in an intensifier like "very" ("he's bloody fast, eh?") or in a more offensive form, similar to "f$%*ing" or "freaking" ("what a bloody bastard!") Whether it is offensive or not depends on the way it's said.
  • Bruddah - slang Used mainly among Maori/Pacific Islanders meaning "brother," but with the "th" sound substituted by "d." Sometimes the "r" is dropped as well ("Buddah"), in the same way as in "bro" becoming "bo."
  • Rude - slang Very uncool ("what a rude car") or as in "stupid" or "ridiculous" ("that movie was so bloody rude").