jeffrey

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Entries Tagged as 'speech'

Similar sounding words in New Zealand

July 12th, 2008 · 5 Comments

“I introduced her to a life full of pashing.”

Did she just say pashing?1 I didn’t know she was a lesbian. Funny that.

*slap*

No, she said passion!

What the devil! Even after four years my brain is still confused every week.

Here are groups of words in New Zealand that are impossible to distinguish for the American ear:

  • bull, ball and bowl
  • hair, air and ear
  • pen, pin and pan

For people from Chicago the difference is obvious. The sounds of the vowels are distinct. But some Kiwis skip their vowels, which leaves me befuddled.

Can you think of other words that sound similar? For example in Australia “six” and “sex” are too close to call. Think of the despair of the weary traveler in Australia’s hostels!

1. An Australian term for heavy duty kissing between teenagers.

Popularity: 44% [?]


Popularity: 44% [?]

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Tags: kiwi-ism · speech

Bloody fun

June 11th, 2008 · 7 Comments

Last night I met Vicky, Neil and Anouk for dinner.

On my way to Crazy Horse1 someone threw a water balloon out of a window and it nearly hit me. It landed next to my right leg.

I looked up at the sky and shook my fist! They were out there somewhere! It was probably the same person who hit the back of my head with a fork.

I thought I escaped embarrassment. But during dinner, Vicky said, “You should go salsa dancing.”

“I don’t salsa dance,” I said.

“Why not? They always need more men.”

“The last time salsa danced I kicked the toenail off my date.”

“Ouch!”

“I had to make a tourniquet out of a napkin for her bleeding toe,” I said.

“Right,” Vicky said. “I always forget that story!”

Salsa dancing confuses me because there’s too much stepping. One wrong move and bang! She loses a toenail.

If I tried again, I would make her wear steel-toed boots. Not very sexy, but safe.

1. Crazy Horse is an excellent steak house in Wellington. I had filet mignon. In New Zealand “filet” is pronounced “fill it.”

Popularity: 69% [?]


Popularity: 69% [?]

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Tags: jeffrey-ism · jinxed · kiwi-ism · memory · speech

Here’s a shortie!

July 9th, 2007 · 21 Comments

Today Catherine said, “I brought you a bikkie today!”

I was confused. A bikkie?

Bikkie is an abbreviation for “biscuit” (a biscuit is a cookie, which was very tasty by the way!).

In New Zealand English it’s okay to end words with an “ie.” See if you know what these words (Kiwi slang) might be:

  1. gummie
  2. hottie
  3. rellie
  4. scarfie
  5. sunnie
  6. wellie
  7. brekkie
  8. kornie
  9. mozzie
  10. sickie
  11. chrissie
  12. sammie
  13. brickie
  14. wharfie
  15. barbie (not the doll)
  16. pressie1
  17. cuzzie3
  18. chippie3
  19. pommie3
  20. tinnie6
  21. kiddie
  22. sparkie11
  23. reckie14
  24. flattie18
  25. possie21

Maybe they’re trying to put the “kiw-ie” in common words? Feel free to add to this list…

Popularity: 24% [?]


Popularity: 24% [?]

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Tags: kiwi-ism · speech

Bowling calls

April 26th, 2007 · 6 Comments

This week I made a reservation for a bowling lane. “Hi, I’d like to make a reservation,” I said.

“Sure, how many lanes and how many people?”

Popularity: 25% [?]


Popularity: 25% [?]

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Tags: american-ism · intolerance · kiwi-ism · speech

Using verbs as nouns

March 28th, 2007 · 11 Comments

 I am a snob.  I am an American snob. This post is about the difference between American English and New Zealand English, which are bastardized versions of British English1. I don’t mind, because bastards are interesting2.

Popularity: 40% [?]


Popularity: 40% [?]

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Tags: american-ism · intolerance · kiwi-ism · speech