General
ow
What does ow mean?
A tag added to statements for emphasis in Māori/Pasifika-influenced Kiwi speech, as in 'not even, ow'.
"That's choice, ow."
Origin
New Zealand speech tag, prominent in Māori and Pasifika English.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'ow' mean in New Zealand slang?
'Ow' is a tag added to the end of a sentence for emphasis or camaraderie, similar to 'eh', 'man' or 'bro'. It's not an exclamation of pain here.
Where does the Kiwi 'ow' come from?
It's prominent in Māori and Pasifika English and has spread into wider New Zealand casual speech.
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