New Zealand English / Reo Pākehā
New Zealand English
Indo-European (West Germanic, English, Antipodean)
New Zealand English is the variety of English spoken in New Zealand by ~3.8M people, the youngest major variety of English (post-1840 colonization). It descends primarily from southern English settler dialects with significant Australian influence and Scottish input (especially in Otago and Southland). Distinguished from Australian English by closer/centralized vowels (the famous 'fush and chups' for 'fish and chips' due to /ɪ/ centralization), front-shifting of /æ/, and a vibrant register of Māori loanwords (kia ora, whānau, kai, mana, taonga, aroha) that have entered everyday speech. Active bilingual policy since the 1987 Māori Language Act has elevated te reo Māori to co-official status alongside English.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in New Zealand English
Sources
- Ethnologue: en (NZ)
- Bauer & Warren (2004) New Zealand English
- Hay, Maclagan & Gordon (2008) New Zealand English
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Indo-European (West Germanic, English, Antipodean)
| Meaning | New Zealand English | Australian English | South African English | Estuary English | Brummie | Cockney | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwoːɾə/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwɔːʔə/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwoːʔə/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ |
| Fire | fire /fɑeə/ | fire /fɑːə/ | fire /fɑɪə/ | fire /fɑɪə/ | fire /fɔɪə/ | fire /fɑːə/ | fire /faɪə/ |
| Sun | sun /sɐn/ | sun /sɐn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sʊn/ | sun /sɐn/ | sun /sʌn/ |
| Moon | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /mʉːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ |
| Star | star /stɐː/ | star /stɐː/ | star /stɑː/ | star /stɑː/ | star /staː/ | star /stɑː/ | star /stɑːɹ/ |
| Night | night /nɐet/ | night /nɑet/ | night /nɑɪt/ | night /nɑɪt/ | night /nɑɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ |
| Rain | rain /ɹæen/ | rain /ɹæɪn/ | rain /ɹeːn/ | rain /ɹɛɪn/ | rain /ɹʌɪn/ | rain /ɹeːn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ |
| Snow | snow /snɐʉ/ | snow /snɐʉ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snoʊ/ |
| Wind | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ |
| Earth | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ |
| Stone | stone /stoːn/ | stone /stoːn/ | stone /stəʊn/ | stone /stəʊn/ | stone /stɐʊn/ | stone /stæʊn/ | stone /stoʊn/ |
| Mountain | mountain /ˈmæʊntən/ | mountain /ˈmæɔntən/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmæʊnʔən/ | mountain /ˈmæʊntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmæːnʔn̩/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ |
| Sea | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ |
| Mother | mother /ˈmɐðə/ | mother /ˈmɐðə/ | mother /ˈmʌðə/ | mother /ˈmʌðə/ | mother /ˈmʊðə/ | mother /ˈmɐvə/ | mother /ˈmʌðə/ |
| Father | father /ˈfɐːðə/ | father /ˈfɐːðə/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ | father /ˈfaːðə/ | father /ˈfɑːvə/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ |
| Daughter | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdoːɾə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːʔə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdoːʔə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ |
| I | I /ɑe/ | I /ɑɪ/ | I /ɑɪ/ | I /ɑɪ/ | I /ɔɪ/ | I /ɑɪ/ | I /aɪ/ |
| You | you /jʉː/ | you /jʉː/ | you /jʉː/ | you /juː/ | you /jʊ/ | you /juː/ | you /juː/ |
| We | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ |
| Name | name /næem/ | name /næɪm/ | name /neːm/ | name /næɪm/ | name /nʌɪm/ | name /næɪm/ | name /neɪm/ |
| Person | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ |
| Head | head /hed/ | head /hed/ | head /hed/ | head /hed/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hed/ | head /hɛd/ |
| Eye | eye /ɐe/ | eye /ɑːe/ | eye /ɑɪ/ | eye /ɑɪ/ | eye /ɔɪ/ | eye /ɑː/ | eye /aɪ/ |
| Ear | ear /ɪə/ | ear /ɪə/ | ear /ɪə/ | ear /ɪə/ | ear /ɪə/ | ear /ɪə/ | ear /ɪɚ/ |
| Nose | nose /nəʉz/ | nose /nəʉz/ | nose /nəʊz/ | nose /nəʊz/ | nose /nəʊz/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noʊz/ |
| Mouth | mouth /mæɔθ/ | mouth /mæːʉθ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | mouth /mæʊθ/ | mouth /mæʊθ/ | mouth /mæːθ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ |
| Tooth | tooth /tʉːθ/ | tooth /tʉːθ/ | tooth /tʉːθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tʊθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːθ/ |
| Tongue | tongue /taŋ/ | tongue /taŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʊŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ |
| Hand | hand /hænd/ | hand /hæːnd/ | hand /hænd/ | hand /hænd/ | hand /hand/ | hand /ænd/ | hand /hænd/ |
| Foot | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊʔ/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊʔ/ | foot /fʊt/ |
| Heart | heart /hɐːt/ | heart /hɐːt/ | heart /hɑːt/ | heart /hɑːʔ/ | heart /haːt/ | heart /ɑːʔ/ | heart /hɑːt/ |
| Bone | bone /bɐʉn/ | bone /bəʉn/ | bone /bəʊn/ | bone /bəʊn/ | bone /bɐʊn/ | bone /bæʊn/ | bone /boʊn/ |
| Blood | blood /blad/ | blood /blad/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʊd/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ |
| Poop | poo /puː/ | poo /pʉː/ | poo /pʉː/ | poo /puː/ | poo /puː/ | poo /puː/ | poop /puːp/ |
| Love | love /lɐv/ | love /lɐv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lʊv/ | love /lɐv/ | love /lʌv/ |
| Tree | tree /tɾiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ |
| Dog | dog /dɔɡ/ | dog /dɔɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ |
| Cat | cat /kæt/ | cat /kæːt/ | cat /kæt/ | cat /kæʔ/ | cat /kat/ | cat /kæʔ/ | cat /kæt/ |
| Fish | fish /fɘʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ |
| Bird | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːɹd/ |
| Butterfly | butterfly /ˈbɐtəflɑe/ | butterfly /ˈbɐɾəflɑɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌtəflɑɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌʔəflɑɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʊtəflɑɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbɐʔəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʌtəflaɪ/ |
| Egg | egg /eɡ/ | egg /eɡ/ | egg /eɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ |
| Bear | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /beː/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛə/ |
| Horse | horse /hoːs/ | horse /hoːs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /ɔːs/ | horse /hɔːs/ |
| House | house /hæɔs/ | house /hæːʉs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /hæʊs/ | house /hæʊs/ | house /æːʔs/ | house /haʊs/ |
| Milk | milk /məlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪwk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪwk/ | milk /mɪlk/ |
| Honey | honey /ˈhani/ | honey /ˈhani/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʊni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ |
| Salt | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /soːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /soːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ |
| Wine | wine /wɑɪn/ | wine /wɑɪn/ | wine /wɑɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ |
| Rice | rice /rɑɪs/ | rice /ɹɑɪs/ | rice /ɹɑɪs/ | rice /ɹɑɪs/ | rice /ɹɑɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ |
| Chocolate | chocolate /ˈtʃɔklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɔklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɒklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɒkləʔ/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɒklət/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɒklɪʔ/ | chocolate /ˈtʃɒklət/ |
| Iron | iron /ˈɑeən/ | iron /ˈɑːən/ | iron /ˈɑɪən/ | iron /ˈɑɪən/ | iron /ˈɔɪən/ | iron /ˈɑːən/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ |
| Wheel | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ |
| Silk | silk /səlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪwk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪwk/ | silk /sɪlk/ |
| Book | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ |
| Eat | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːʔ/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːʔ/ | eat /iːt/ |
| Drink | drink /dɾɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ |
| Sleep | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ |
| One | one /wɐn/ | one /wɐn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wʊn/ | one /wɐn/ | one /wʌn/ |
| Two | two /tʉː/ | two /tʉː/ | two /tʉː/ | two /tuː/ | two /tuː/ | two /tʰuː/ | two /tuː/ |
| Three | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /fɹiː/ | three /θɹiː/ |
| Four | four /foː/ | four /foː/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔːɹ/ |
| Five | five /fɑɪv/ | five /fɑɪv/ | five /fɑɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ |
| Hundred | hundred /ˈhandɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhandɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʊndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ |
| Hello | kia ora /kiə ɔːɾə/ | g'day /ɡəˈdæɪ/ | hello /həˈləʊ/ | hello /həˈlʌʊ/ | hello /həˈlʌʊ/ | oi /oɪ/ | hello /həˈləʊ/ |
| Thank you | cheers /tʃiəz/ | thanks /θæːŋks/ | thanks /θæŋks/ | thanks /θæŋks/ | ta /taː/ | fanks /fæŋks/ | thank you /θæŋk juː/ |
| Good | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ |
| New | new /njʉː/ | new /njʉː/ | new /njʉː/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ |
| Red | red /ɹed/ | red /ɹed/ | red /ɹed/ | red /ɹed/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹed/ | red /ɹɛd/ |
| White | white /wɑɪt/ | white /wɑɪt/ | white /wɑɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ |
| Black | black /blæk/ | black /blæːk/ | black /blæk/ | black /blæk/ | black /blak/ | black /blæk/ | black /blæk/ |
| Green | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ |
| Blue | blue /blʉː/ | blue /blʉː/ | blue /blʉː/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ |
| Cuckoo | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ | cuckoo /ˈkʊkuː/ |
| Woof | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ | woof /wʊf/ |
| Cock-a-doodle-doo | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɔkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɔkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ | cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒkəduːdlˈduː/ |
| Computer | computer /kəmˈpjʉːtɐ/ | computer /kəmˈpjʉːtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjʉːtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːʔə/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi /ˈwɑɪfɑɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwɑɪfɑɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwɑɪfɑɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ | Wi-Fi /ˈwaɪfaɪ/ |
| Sushi | sushi /ˈsʉːʃiː/ | sushi /ˈsʉːʃiː/ | sushi /ˈsʉʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsʉːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ |
| Tea | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ |
| Coffee | coffee /ˈkɔfi/ | coffee /ˈkɔfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ |
| Sugar | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ |
| Orange | orange /ˈɔɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ |
| Ninety-nine | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnɑɪnti ˈnɑɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ |
| Dopamine | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdəʉpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəmiːn/ |
| At sign | at /ɛt/ | at /æt/ | at /æt/ | at /æt/ | at /at/ | at /æt/ | at /æt/ |
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