Translations

We have decided that a New Zealand English – American English translation article is in order to ensure there is full understanding of the crazy Kiwi on the team.


Kiwi Terms / Translation for Americans:


Fizzing: Very excited and happy

Gutted: Very disappointed

Mint: Great! Perfect!

Hot!: Very nice (for example, “that is a HOT time trial bike Kate!”)

Biscuit: Cookie

Kumara / Yam: Sweet Potato

Yam: Very small, not sweet, root vegetable which doesn’t seem to be
available in the U.S

Cheers Mate: Thank you very much my friend

She’ll be right Mate: Don’t worry my friend, everything will be ok.

Homely: Someone who loves to look after and cook for people
and provide outstanding hospitality (was mortified to learn
this meant 'ugly' in the U.S since I had always described my
beautiful team mate Michele as'homely'!)

Scroggin: Trail mix

Wrecked: Tired

Ratbag: Mischievous

Hard case: Funny /humorous person

Flat: House being rented with other people

Shifting: Moving house

Cruisy: Relaxed / Easy going

Plaster: Band Aid

Togs: Bathing suit / swim suit

Jandals: Flip flops

Dodgy: Questionable / dubious

Wee: Little / small

Arvo: Afternoon

Vivid: Marker pen

Hot Dog: Corn Dog

Ok, so after you have all memorized these phrases, I expect there will be no more blank stares and “say that agains?”!! Feel free to adopt any of these sayings….it is about time you Americans learnt to talk proper English.. Ha ha!


Some wee tests for any one super keen to brush up on their Kiwi:

“Cath was _ _ zz _ _ _ to s _ _ _ _ into her new _ _ _ t in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, It’s a m _ _ _ place!”

“It was so hot, all Kate wanted to do was get in her _ _ _g_ and jump in the water, she was _ _ tt _ _ the rivers were too d _ _ _ _ to swim in, and it also wasn’t a brilliant idea because she had a couple of _ _ _ _ _ _ rs on her leg from a crash.”

Anyone who can get all of these correct (c’mon, I made it easy!) gets an Altarum t-shirt with gigantic Kiwi (which are actually a native bird, by the way, not a fruit…..we refer to the fruit as ‘Kiwifruit”) drawn all on the back in vivid!

Ciao!