(NZ, as a form of address) Mate, friend.
(NZ, as a form of address) Mate, friend.
E hoa means: Mate, friend.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
e hoa means: Mate, friend.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
E hoa means: Mate, friend.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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A New Zealand informal term, borrowed from Maori, meaning annoyed, irritated, or fed up. Used freely in New Zealand English across communities as a way of expressing mild to moderate frustration. Part of the everyday Maori vocabulary that has permeated New Zealand English speech.
(New Zealand) A greeting (to a single person).
(NZ, informal) angry, annoyed.
Tena koe is a formal Maori greeting used when addressing a single person — think of it as the te reo equivalent of 'greetings to you.' In New Zealand it appears in schools, workplaces, and official settings as part of the country's biculturalism. It's respectful and warm, marking the speaker as someone who honours Maori language and custom.
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