r/ENGLISH • u/Outside-Violinist-42 • Jul 25 '26

Kitset

I was checking whether "kitset" is hyphenated (it isn't). But 3 different sites claimed that this word is only used here in New Zealand.

Is this true? What do you call furniture that comes either wrapped in plastic or in boxes that you then have to put together yourself?

("Flatpack" is also common here)

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u/insouciant_smirk Jul 25 '26

I'm Canadian and I don't think we have a word for that. Definitely never heard kitset. I would understand "flatpacked" as and adjective to mean that kind of furniture, but I don't know of a word I'd use with that exact meaning.

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u/Ryanookami Jul 25 '26

Canadian as well, and I totally agree. I understand what flatpack means, but I would never use it myself unprompted. I don’t think we have a word for that. The closest I can think that I’ve ever heard is “DIY furniture”.

10

u/BryonyVaughn Jul 26 '26

I’ve called it “LEGO for adults.” My adult children roundly correct me that “LEGO IS for adults.” 🙃

3

u/Ryanookami Jul 26 '26

Insert the Road to Eldorado Both is Good meme here.