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Kiwi slang is the informal language associated with New Zealand English. “Kiwi” is a common informal name for a person from New Zealand, and Kiwi English has developed its own vocabulary, expressions, shortened words, and Māori-influenced terms.
If you’ve heard someone say “sweet as,” “chur,” “bro,” “heaps,” “yeah, nah,” or “good as,” you’ve encountered some of the language that gives Kiwi speech its distinctive character.
Some Kiwi terms are instantly recognizable around New Zealand, while others are regional, older, humorous, or more common among particular age groups.
Quick answer: Kiwi slang is New Zealand’s informal vocabulary and expressions, shaped by New Zealand English, Māori language and culture, local history, and everyday life.
What Does Kiwi Slang Mean?
Kiwi slang refers to informal words and expressions used in New Zealand.
It includes:
- Everyday vocabulary
- Friendly expressions
- Māori-derived words
- Abbreviations
- Food and drink terms
- Outdoor vocabulary
- Local names for places and objects
- Humorous expressions
For example:
“Sweet as!”
usually means:
“Great!” / “No problem!” / “Sounds good!”
The word “as” in this expression doesn’t function in the standard way you might expect. It’s part of a distinctive New Zealand conversational pattern.
Why Does New Zealand Have So Much Unique Slang?
New Zealand English developed from British English but evolved in a different cultural and geographic environment.
Its vocabulary has been influenced by:
- Māori language and culture
- British English
- Australian English
- Pacific languages
- Local geography
- Farming
- Outdoor culture
- Sport
- New Zealand history
Some Māori words have become normal parts of everyday New Zealand English rather than merely “slang.”
For that reason, it is useful to distinguish Kiwi slang from Māori vocabulary. Not every Māori word commonly used in New Zealand should be labeled slang.
100+ Popular Kiwi Slang Words and Phrases
1. Sweet As
Meaning: Great, excellent, no problem, or sounds good.
“Want to grab lunch?”
“Sweet as!”
One of the most recognizable Kiwi expressions.
2. Chur
Meaning: Thanks, cheers, or appreciation.
“Here you go.”
“Chur, bro!”
It’s casual and friendly.
3. Bro
Meaning: Friend, mate, or buddy.
“How’s it going, bro?”
It doesn’t necessarily mean biological brother.
4. Cuz
Meaning: Friend or close acquaintance.
It comes from cousin but is commonly used more loosely.
“What’s up, cuz?”
5. Choice
Meaning: Excellent, awesome, or really good.
“That surf was choice!”
6. Heaps
Meaning: A lot or very much.
“Thanks heaps!”
Meaning:
“Thanks a lot!”
7. Yeah, Nah
Meaning: Often a soft or indirect way of saying no, although context and tone matter.
“You coming tonight?”
“Yeah, nah.”
This can sometimes mean:
“No, probably not.”
But Kiwi speakers can use the phrase in more complicated ways depending on tone.
8. Nah, Yeah
This can signal agreement or confirmation.
“You reckon we should go?”
“Nah, yeah.”
Meaning roughly:
“Yes, I agree.”
The difference between yeah, nah and nah, yeah is often part of the fun.
9. Jandals
Meaning: Flip-flops or sandals.
“Grab your jandals before we head to the beach.”
This is one of the classic examples of New Zealand vocabulary.
10. Togs
Meaning: Swimsuit or swimwear.
“Don’t forget your togs.”
In other varieties of English, someone might simply say swimsuit or swimwear.
11. Dairy
Meaning: A small neighborhood convenience store.
“I’m heading to the dairy for some milk.”
In New Zealand, dairy can refer to a shop rather than simply a place associated with milk production.
12. Bach
Meaning: A holiday home or small vacation house.
“We’re staying at the bach this weekend.”
It is commonly associated with New Zealand’s holiday culture.
13. Chilly Bin
Meaning: Cooler or ice chest.
“Put the drinks in the chilly bin.”
14. Lolly
Meaning: Candy or sweets.
“Do you want a lolly?”
The term can refer broadly to confectionery.
15. Scroggin
Meaning: Trail mix.
It usually refers to a mixture of things such as nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, and other snack ingredients.
“Pack some scroggin for the hike.”
16. Munted
Meaning: Broken, damaged, ruined, or sometimes extremely drunk, depending on context.
“My bike is completely munted.”
Meaning:
“My bike is badly damaged.”
It can also have other informal meanings, so context matters.
17. Knackered
Meaning: Extremely tired.
“I’m absolutely knackered.”
This isn’t uniquely New Zealand, but it is commonly heard in Kiwi English.
18. Hard Out
Meaning: Strongly, definitely, or intensely.
“That movie was scary hard out.”
Depending on context, it can emphasize the preceding idea.
19. Good As
Meaning: Very good or perfectly fine.
“How’s the new car?”
“Good as.”
Like sweet as, the as construction is distinctive in New Zealand English.
20. Mean
Meaning: Excellent, impressive, or awesome.
“That trick was mean!”
This is an important example of how slang can reverse the expected meaning of an ordinary word.
Kiwi Slang for Friends
New Zealanders have several casual ways to address friends.
Bro
Friend or buddy.
Cuz
Friend or close person.
Mate
Friend.
Fella
A guy or man.
Lad
A young man or guy.
Chur bro
A friendly expression combining appreciation and friendship.
“Chur bro!”
roughly means:
“Thanks, mate!”
Kiwi Slang for Food and Drinks
New Zealand English has plenty of food-related vocabulary.
Lolly
Candy.
Tomato sauce
Often used for what Americans call ketchup.
Chippy
Can refer to a fish-and-chip shop or, depending on context, a carpenter.
Takeaways
Takeout food.
“Let’s get some takeaways.”
Macca’s
McDonald’s.
Fizzy
A carbonated soft drink.
“Want a fizzy?”
Flat white
A popular coffee style strongly associated with New Zealand and Australia.
Kiwi Slang for Money
Some everyday money expressions include:
Bucks
Dollars.
“It costs fifty bucks.”
A grand
$1,000.
“The repairs cost a grand.”
Brass razoo
An informal expression meaning little or no money.
“I haven’t got a brass razoo.”
This is a humorous older expression.
Kiwi Slang for People
Kiwi
A New Zealander.
Important distinction:
A kiwi can also mean the native New Zealand bird or the fruit, so context matters.
Pākehā
A Māori term commonly used in New Zealand for a person of European descent, though its precise meaning and preferred usage can vary by speaker and context. It isn’t simply interchangeable with “Kiwi.”
Sheila
Woman or girl. This is informal and can sound dated or stereotypical depending on context.
Kiwi Slang for Places and Transportation
Town
Often used casually to mean the central urban area.
“I’m heading into town.”
Overseas
Used to refer to foreign countries or travel outside New Zealand.
“She’s gone overseas.”
InterCity
A well-known long-distance bus service, but not slang.
Ute
Pickup truck or utility vehicle.
“Chuck it in the ute.”
The term is also common in Australia.
Kiwi Slang and Māori Words
New Zealand English includes many Māori words that are now widely recognized in everyday speech.
Kia ora
A greeting and expression of thanks or goodwill.
“Kia ora!”
Whānau
Family or extended family/community relationships.
Kai
Food.
“Let’s get some kai.”
Aotearoa
The Māori name commonly used for New Zealand.
Whare
House or building.
Puku
Stomach or belly.
These words are important parts of New Zealand’s linguistic and cultural landscape and shouldn’t simply be treated as novelty slang.
Kiwi Slang on TikTok and Social Media
Social media has helped spread Kiwi expressions internationally.
You may encounter:
- Sweet as
- Chur
- Bro
- Cuz
- Choice
- Yeah, nah
- Jandals
- Togs
- Munted
- Good as
A TikTok caption might say:
“Sweet as, we’re heading to the beach.”
An international viewer may understand the words individually but still wonder why “as” appears at the end.
That’s because “sweet as” is an established Kiwi expression.
Kiwi Slang in Texting
Kiwi texting is often short and relaxed.
Examples:
“Chur bro”
“Sweet as”
“Yeah nah 😂”
“Cuz, where you at?”
“Keen for kai?”
Here, keen means interested or willing.
What Does “Keen” Mean in Kiwi Slang?
Keen means interested, willing, or enthusiastic.
“Keen for dinner?”
means:
“Do you want to get dinner?”
A natural response could be:
“Yeah, keen.”
Meaning:
“Yes, I’m interested.”
What Does “Sweet As” Really Mean?
Sweet as is one of the best-known Kiwi expressions.
It can communicate:
- Great
- Perfect
- Sounds good
- No problem
- Awesome
- That’s fine
Example
“Can you pick me up at 7?”
“Sweet as.”
Meaning:
“Sure, no problem.”
The expression is often friendly and relaxed.
What Does “Chur” Mean?
Chur is a casual expression of thanks or appreciation.
It can be similar to:
- Cheers
- Thanks
- Nice one
- Thanks, mate
Example
“I saved you a seat.”
“Chur!”
Meaning:
“Thanks!”
What Does “Yeah, Nah” Mean?
Yeah, nah is one of the most famous examples of New Zealand conversational humor.
It often means:
“No.”
but in a softer, less direct way.
Example
“Are you coming to the party?”
“Yeah, nah, probably not.”
The speaker is saying no.
However, intonation and context can change how the phrase is interpreted.
What Does “Mean” Mean in Kiwi Slang?
This is a particularly interesting example.
In standard English:
mean = unkind or unpleasant
In Kiwi slang:
mean = excellent, impressive, or cool
Example
“That was mean!”
could mean:
“That was awesome!”
Context and tone are crucial.
What Does “Choice” Mean in Kiwi Slang?
Choice means excellent or very good.
“That was a choice feed.”
Meaning:
“That was a great meal.”
It’s especially associated with casual New Zealand speech.
Kiwi Slang vs. Australian Slang
New Zealand and Australian English share some vocabulary, but they aren’t identical.
Words such as:
- mate
- ute
- heaps
- lolly
can appear in both countries.
But expressions such as:
- sweet as
- chur
- jandals
- dairy
- togs
are strongly associated with New Zealand.
Is Kiwi Slang Offensive?
Most Kiwi slang is harmless.
However, some words can become offensive depending on:
- Tone
- Context
- Who is speaking
- Who is being addressed
- Cultural background
Māori words should also be used respectfully rather than as jokes or stereotypes.
Is Kiwi Slang Appropriate for Kids?
Most everyday Kiwi slang is completely suitable for children.
Words such as:
- Sweet as
- Bro
- Chur
- Jandals
- Togs
- Dairy
- Kai
- Choice
are generally harmless.
Some terms, such as munted, can have adult meanings depending on context, so children may encounter different uses online.
When Should You Use Kiwi Slang?
Kiwi slang works best in:
- Casual conversations
- Texting
- Social media
- Travel conversations
- Friendly chats
- Informal writing
- Comedy
If you’re speaking with New Zealanders, using a few expressions naturally can be fun.
However, don’t force slang into every sentence. Native speakers don’t necessarily use every famous Kiwi expression all the time.
Common Misconceptions About Kiwi Slang
1. Every New Zealander uses every Kiwi slang word.
False.
Usage varies by region, age, background, and social group.
2. Kiwi slang is just Australian slang.
False.
The two varieties share historical influences but have their own vocabulary and expressions.
3. Every Māori word is slang.
False.
Many Māori words are part of normal New Zealand English and have important cultural meanings.
4. “Sweet as” means something is sweet.
Not literally.
In this expression, it means something is good, fine, or excellent.
5. “Mean” always means bad.
Not in Kiwi slang.
It can mean awesome or impressive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous Kiwi slang?
Sweet as is probably one of the most internationally recognizable New Zealand expressions.
What does “Kiwi” mean?
In informal usage, Kiwi means a person from New Zealand. It can also refer to New Zealand’s native kiwi bird.
What does “chur” mean?
Chur is a casual expression meaning thanks, cheers, or appreciation.
What does “bro” mean in New Zealand?
Bro commonly means friend, mate, or buddy.
What does “jandals” mean?
Jandals means flip-flops or sandals.
What are “togs”?
Togs means swimwear or a swimsuit.
What is a “dairy” in New Zealand?
A dairy is a small convenience store or neighborhood shop.
What does “bach” mean?
A bach is a holiday home, usually a relatively simple vacation property.
What does “sweet as” mean?
It can mean great, perfect, no problem, or sounds good.
What does “yeah, nah” mean?
It often means no, especially as a soft or indirect response.
What does “choice” mean in Kiwi slang?
Choice means excellent, great, or awesome.
What does “mean” mean in Kiwi slang?
Mean can mean cool, impressive, or excellent.
What does “heaps” mean?
Heaps means a lot or very much.
What does “kai” mean?
Kai is Māori for food and is widely used in New Zealand English.
Final Summary
Kiwi slang gives New Zealand English its distinctive, relaxed character. Some of the most useful expressions to know are:
- Sweet as — great / no problem
- Chur — thanks / cheers
- Bro — friend / mate
- Cuz — friend / close person
- Choice — excellent
- Heaps — a lot
- Yeah, nah — often no
- Nah, yeah — often yes
- Jandals — flip-flops
- Togs — swimwear
- Dairy — convenience store
- Bach — holiday home
- Chilly bin — cooler
- Lolly — candy
- Scroggin — trail mix
- Munted — damaged or, in some contexts, extremely drunk
- Keen — interested or willing
- Kai — food
- Kia ora — greeting / thanks / goodwill
The biggest lesson is that Kiwi English is more than a collection of funny slang words. It reflects New Zealand’s history, Māori influence, outdoor lifestyle, humor, and distinctive conversational style. Some terms are uniquely Kiwi, while others are shared with Australian or broader English varieties.