Yes, they do say "G'day" (often pronounced "gidday") in New Zealand as a casual greeting, similar to "hello" or "hi," though it's more famously Australian and Kiwis often prefer the Māori greeting "Kia ora" or other slang like "sweet as," but "G'day" is understood and used in both Aussie and Kiwi English, especially in informal settings.
g'day, a greeting in Australian, and New Zealand English.
This word is used in Australian English and New Zealand English.
Greeting someone in New Zealand
Common greetings in New Zealand include 'Gidday' (good day/hi) and 'Kia ora' (hi in Maori). In business settings, a hand-shake is standard for both men and women. In Maori culture, it is common to greet people with a hongi instead of shaking hands.
Interestingly, “G'day” was originally only used by rural Australians, but it soon spread to urban areas and became a national greeting. Today, it's a part of the Australian identity and is recognized around the world as a quintessential Australian phrase.
General greeting, used instead of “hello”, both day and night. Often combined with “mate”, as in… How do you use it? “G'day, mate!” (mostly used by men though, not so often by women.)
"Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, Oi, Oi, Oi!" is a popular Australian sports chant, a variation of the British "Oggy, Oggy, Oggy" cheer, used to express national pride and support for Australian teams, with "Ozzy" being slang for "Australian" and "Oi, Oi, Oi" a general interjection for enthusiasm or attention, much like "USA!". The chant involves one group shouting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" and the crowd responding "Oi, Oi, Oi!".
To say "hello" in "Kiwi" (New Zealand), the most common and versatile greeting is Kia ora (pronounced kee-a OR-ah), a traditional Māori phrase that means "hello," "welcome," "thank you," or is used to wish someone well, showing respect for the local culture. You might also hear informal English greetings like "Hey," "Hi," or "G'day," but Kia ora is the quintessential New Zealand greeting.
Simple answer? G'day means “Good Day.”
Short for "Japanese sandals," “jandals” are what New Zealanders call flip-flops. They're the go-to footwear for Kiwis during the summer months.
The most Australian thing to say often involves casual slang like "G'day, mate!" or "No worries, she'll be right," reflecting a laid-back, friendly culture that shortens words (arvo for afternoon, brekkie for breakfast) and uses unique phrases like "Fair dinkum" (really/truly) or "Bloody oath!" (yes, absolutely) for emphasis. It's about being informal, positive, and using unique terms for everyday things like a "barbie" (BBQ) or "sunnies" (sunglasses).
Woop Woop is used to refer to a place in the middle of nowhere. People use it to signify that a location is far away, unfamiliar to them, and difficult to get to.
(good day): Used interchangeably with hello and hi, but more characteristically Australian/New Zealand, and perhaps the most informal of these options. Also used in the constructions G'day, mate (a greeting to a friend or acquaintance) and G'day, stranger (ironically, to a friend not seen in some time).
Kia ora (Māori pronunciation: [k i ˈ a ɔ ɾ a], approximated in English as /ˌkiː ˈɔːrə/ kee OR-ə or /ˈkjɔːrə/ KYOR-ə) is a Māori-language greeting which has entered New Zealand English.
The New Zealand accent is most similar to Australian accents, particularly those of Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and South Australia, but is distinguished from these accents by the presence of three "clipped" vowels, slightly resembling South African English.
Popular Kiwi phrases
Strewth! A common word that Aussies use to express surprise, exclamation or disappointment. Similar to saying, “oh my god!”, for example.
In Australia, saying “G'day” is like saying hello, and it's a go-to Aussie greeting. Variations such as “G'day, mate,” “G'day, champion,” and “G'day, love” are also famous casual salutations that add friendly expressions to local interactions.
Australians say hello informally with "G'day," "Hi," "Hey," or "How ya goin'?" (meaning "How are you doing?"). "Mate" is a common term of address for friends or even strangers, used with "G'day" or as a standalone greeting. While "G'day" is classic, more common modern greetings in cities are "Hey, how's it going?" or just "Hi," often not expecting a detailed answer.
To respond to "Kia ora," you can simply say "Kia ora" back, as it's a versatile greeting for hello or thanks; for more specific responses, use "Tēnā koe" (formal, to one person), "Tēnā kōrua" (to two), or "Tēnā koutou" (to many), or add "e hoa" (friend) for informality, or respond to thanks with "Kei te pai" (All good/I'm good).
Kiwi is not generally considered to be a derogatory term, but there are New Zealanders, particularly some with Māori heritage, who find the appellation jarring and prefer not to identify with it.
Chur. 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".
Another classic case of Australians shortening everything. Meaning 'thank you', ta is usually used for the times when you are in a rush or want to send a quick text to show your appreciation for something.
It's certainly very direct and abrupt, but it's not personally insulting. 'Oi, leave my car alone! ' when you see someone doing something they… shouldn't be.
Tin-miners' wives or pasty sellers supposedly shouted "Oggy Oggy Oggy" – the response from any hungry miner or labourer would be Oi!, Oi!, Oi!. The chant is also the chorus of a folk song and has always been heard at Cornish rugby matches so this seem another possible origin.