Contionary:kiwiʻ

Kiwi

Alternative forms

किप़िः (Kiwi Devanagari)

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Rana *kʰəiwiːtə, ('speech') from the root √kw ('related to speaking').

Pronunciation

(Kiwi) IPA: /kɪˈwɪʔ/

Noun

kiwiʻ cl.7 (plural nominative kakiwiʻ)

1. (countable) Native language.
2. (countable) The vocabulary and usage used in a particular specialist field - jargon, slang
3. (countable) The particular words used in speech or a passage of text.

   The language he used to talk to me was obscene.

   The language used in the law does not permit any other interpretation.

4. Words, written or spoken, in a specific sequence that a person uses to describe, to a another person, the type of thoughts in their mind.
5. (countable) A computer language.

Usage notes

Note that Kiwi has no general word equivalent to the English word language. Instead, this term denotes a native language of anyone, not just of the speakers of Kiwi.

This is an informal Kiwi noun. It should not be used with people of superior social status, but with your peers.

Related terms

• kamakawiʻ - formal language
• rimaʻ - personal language
• rī - common language
• bahasa - foreign language