Wednesday, November 28, 2018

English as a First (and Second) Language: an Expanded List

As you may have read previously, American English and Kiwi English are quite different.

I think it's funny that, revisiting this list, I'm realizing I've heard some of these expressions/words/phrases for almost 2 years now, but have become so used to them that I didn't add them to the original list.

As before, I'll explain a few that might need more elaboration and then update the previous list with way more words/phrases. I'll put the old ones at the bottom, too, to refresh your memory.

Some of the meanings of these words are very obvious, because in America they are synonyms, but not used as often.

heaps - lots
mates - friends
keen/ keen as- an enthusiastic yes
suss - sort
gutted - disappointed

But even letters are not immune to kiwi translation. The letter z here is called "zed."Although I guess that's also a British thing. Hello, James Corden.

Below is the updated list:

American English vs. Kiwi English     
                                      
          Fine - Good as gold
Dangit / Shoot - Bugger               
Sandwich - Sammie     
Swimsuit - Togs           
Trunks - Boardies
Gumboots - Gummies    
Next minute - Nek minit        
       Full - Chocka          
Hey! - Oi         
                    Kiss - Pash (more Aussie)
Sweet potato - Cumera             
    Kiwi - Kiwi fruit
Gas - Petrol
  Pepper - Capsicum
Granola - Muesli    
Oatmeal - Porridge
 Talk - Yawn
Car trunk - Boot         
Car hood - Bonnet    
   Takeout - Takeaway
Good for you - Good on you 
Cracker - Biscuit  
Leash - Lead  
Short shorts - Stubbies 
Napkin - Serviette      


Previous List:
Cookies - Biscuits
Flip flops -  Jandals
      Trash - Rubbish
                            Fries - Chips (but chips can also be chips)
Bandaid - Plaster
                                   Cooler - Chilly Bin (this makes so much sense, right??)
Vacation - Holiday
Truck - Ute  
Afternoon - Arvo      
Tank top - Singlet
Beach house - Batch/Crib
Stroller - Pram
    All good - Sweet as
Electrician - Sparky

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