Jandals: Flip flops/thongs. A bit like going barefoot, which Kiwis love!
Jandals are the Kiwi name for what you call slippahs, flip flops or thongs. They are standard footwear in New Zealand during summer.
The name 'jandal' combined the words 'Japanese' and 'sandal'. There is disagreement about whether Yock invented the jandal. The family of John Cowie claim that he introduced the footwear from Japan in the late 1940s, coining the name 'jandal' in the process.
In Maori, a tutu is a native shrub, yet in Kiwi slang, we use the term as a verb, as in to 'fiddle around with something,' such as 'to give the broken cupboard door a bit of a 'tutu.
The shoe known in Australia as a “thong” is one of the oldest styles of footwear in the world. Worn with small variations across Egypt, Rome, Greece, sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, Korea, Japan and some Latin American cultures, the shoe was designed to protect the sole while keeping the top of the foot cool.
In the USA a thong is a piece of underwear. In Australia, it's what they call flip-flops. Sometimes they also call them "double-pluggers".
Aussie Word of the Week
Underdaks, also called underchunders or underdungers, is a colloquial name for your underpants. Daks are trousers, therefore underdaks must logically be underwear. Simple.
The meaning of chur is essentially thank you. You can use this classic Kiwi slang to show gratitude or appreciation. As explained above, it can also mean "sweet as" or "that's awesome".
Although the term "bogan" is understood across Australia and New Zealand, certain regions have their own slang terms for the same group of people. These terms include: "Bevan" or "Bev" in Queensland.
teke (Kana spelling テケ) (anatomy) hand, hands.
Durrie: Cigarette. “Hey bro, lend us a durrie!” Sweet as: Cool, awesome or no problem.
'Gumboots' And 'Jandals'
Both are colloquial, loveable Kiwi icons. The Gumboot is not some type of gummy candy, it's simply your wellies or Wellington Boots to use the proper term. A Jandal is your equivalent of a flip-flop or thong (ask the Aussie's for their answer on thongs!).
Vowel Play In The New Zealand Accent
While an Australian will claim their “feesh and cheeps” are tops, New Zealanders will tell you their “fush and chups” takes the cake. You see, we Kiwis turn our short I-sounds into U's, so “fish” becomes fush and “chips” sounds more like chups.
jandal (plural jandals) (New Zealand) A flip-flop (type of footwear)
Jandals – whether you call them flip flops or thongs where you come from, the perennial summer footwear favourite is called a jandal in NZ. They are one step up from going bare foot (which Kiwis do a lot!) and often look pretty battered!
verb. If you say that someone, especially a politician, flip-flops on a decision, you are critical of them because they change their decision, so that they do or think the opposite. [mainly US, informal, disapproval]
Stubbie holder:koozie or cooler. A stubbie holder is a polystyrene insulated holder for a stubbie, which is a 375ml bottle of beer.
Macca's: A nickname for a McDonald's fast food restaurant.
Chocka – “Have you had enough to eat?” “ Yeah, I'm chocka block” or “Can you fit this into your car?” “ Nah, it's chocka”
Kia ora – hello, goodbye, thank you.
Biff it – Means to throw something.
Your Kiwi friend: Na bro just biff it in the bin. (Meaning: No thanks, just throw it in the trash.)
A: Ah, well, the main two players worldwide are “couch” and “sofa”. Sofa is more common in Britain, while couch is preferred in North America, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Q: Is there a difference?
In Australia and New Zealand, they are also commonly known as trackpants, trackies, tracky daks or joggers.
Depending on which country you are from, you may use the term, woollen sweater, wool jumper, pullover or jersey – they can all be used when referring to a wool jumper, woollen jumper Australia, knitwear Australia or woollen sweaters. Woolen jumpers Australia are what we know as a woollen pullover.
Couch turf (pronounced 'cooch') is a popular warm-season grass variety in Australia, thanks to its high drought tolerance and soft underfoot. It's one of the toughest turf varieties, and it's used for playing surfaces in stadiums and golf courses.