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Te Reo Māori Glossary

 

  1. Ngā Kupu Tino | Essential Words
  2. Ngā Tūkapi | Pronouns
  3. Tangata | People
  4. Mātauranga | Knowledge
  5. Ngā Rōpū | Groups
  6. Te Marae | The Marae Complex
  7. Ngā Rerenga Kōrero | Essential Phrases
  8. Kupu Whakataki me Kupu Whakamutunga mō īmēra | Intro and Outro for email
  9. Horanuku | Landscape
  10. Te Tari | The Office
  11. Ngā mihi o te Raumati | Greetings for Summer

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1. Ngā Kupu Tino | Essential Words
Play Ngā Kupu Tino Essential words
Play Āe Yes, Okay
Play Kia ora   Hi, Thanks (1 or more people)
Play Mōrena  Morning!
Play Ahi ahi mārie Good afternoon
Play Kāore No 
Play Ka kite!  See you!
Play Ata mārie Good morning
Play Pō mārie Good evening / night

 

2. Ngā Tūkapi | Pronouns
Play Ngā Tūkapi Pronouns
Play Ahau I, Me
Play Koe You (1 person)
Play Kōrua You (2 people)
Play Koutou You (3 or more people)

 

3. Tangata | People
Play Tangata People
Play Kuia Elderly woman
Play Koroua Elderly man
Play Whaea Mother, aunt
Play Matua Father, uncle
Play Wahine Woman, wife
Play Tāne Man, husband
Play Hine Young woman, daughter
Play Kōtiro Young girl, daughter
Play Tama Young boy, son
Play Tamariki Children
Play Rangatahi Young person
Play Tauira Student
Play Ākonga Learner

 

4. Mātauranga | Knowledge
Play Mātauranga Knowledge
Play Te Tiriti o Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi
Play Te Ao Māori The Māori World
Play Kotahitanga Unity, Solidarity
Play Wairua Spirit
Play Mauri Life force 
Play Mana Prestige, Status
Play Manaakitanga Hospitality, Kindness
Play Whanaungatanga Relationship, Kinship
Play Haka Posture dance
Play Waiata to sing / song

 

5. Ngā Rōpū | Groups
Play Ngā Rōpū Groups
Play Iwi Tribe, Nation, People
Play Hapū Pregnant, Kinship group
Play Whānau to give birth, Family
Play Rōpū Group, Organisation

 

6. Te Marae | The Marae Complex
Play Te Marae The Marae Complex
Play Tomokanga Entrance, Portal, Gateway
Play Waharoa Entrance to a pā, Gateway
Play Te Whare Tipuna The Ancestral House (Eastern Dialect)
Play Te Whare Tupuna The Ancestral House (Western Dialect)
Play Te Whare Whakairo The Carved Meeting house
Play Te Wharenui The Meeting house
Play Marae ātea The open space in-front of the Wharenui
Play Paepae Orator’s bench
Play Tangata Whenua People of the land
Play Mana Whenua Authority of tribal lands
Play Manuhiri Guests, Visitors (Eastern Dialect)
Play Manuwhiri Guests, Visitors (Western Dialect)
Play Pōhiri Ceremonial Welcome (Eastern Dialect)
Play Pōwhiri Ceremonial Welcome (Western Dialect)
Play Karanga to call, call out
Play Kaikaranga Caller of the Karanga
Play Whaikōrero Formal Speech
Play Kaikōrero Speaker, Narrator
Play Karakia Incantation, Prayer
Play Waiata to sing, song
Play Hongi to press noses in a greeting
Play Hariru to shake hands
Play Wharekai Dining hall
Play Kīhini Kitchen
Play Kai Food, to eat
Play Inu Drink, to drink
Play Hāngi Ground oven
Play Hākari Shared feast
Play Kai moana Seafood, Shellfish
Play Māra kai Garden foods
Play Rūma kaukau Bathroom
Play Wharepaku Toilet
Play Tangi to cry, mourn
Play Tangihanga Funeral
Play Tūpāpaku Body of the deceased
Play Urupā Cemetery
Play Kawa Protocols; specific to a marae
Play Tikanga Protocols; observed across all iwi and hapū
Play Kaupapa Protocols; the purpose of a gathering
Play Tapu Restricted, Sacred
Play Noa Normal

 

7. Ngā Rerenga Kōrero | Essential Phrases
Play Ngā Rerenga Kōrero Essential phrases
Play Nō hea koe? Where are you from?
Play Nō … ahau I am from …
Play Ko wai tō ingoa? What is your name?
Play Ko … taku ingoa My name is …
Play Kei te pēhea koe? How are you?
Play Kei te pai ahau I am good
Play Kei te hiakai ahau I am hungry
Play Kei te hiainu ahau I am thirsty
Play Kei te hiamoe ahau I am sleepy
Play Kei te ngenge ahau I am tired
Play Tino wera it is very hot
Play Tino makariri it is very cold
Play Kei te whiti te rā The sun is shining
Play Kei te heke te ua The rain is falling
Play Kei te pupuhi te hau The wind is blowing
Play Kei te heke te hukapapa The snow is falling

 

8. Kupu Whakataki me Kupu Whakamutunga mō īmēra | Intro and Outro for email
Play Kupu Whakataki me Kupu Whakamutunga mō īmēra Intro and Outro for email
Play Kia ora a [name] Hi, Thanks (to person named)
Play Kia ora kōrua Hi, Thanks (2 people)
Play Kia ora koutou Hi, Thanks (3 or more people)
Play Kia ora tātou Hi, Thanks to us all (3 or more people)
Play Kia ora e hoa Hi, Thank you my friend 
Play Kia ora e hoa mā Hi, Thank you my friends (2 or more people)
Play Kia ora wāhine mā Hi, Thank you ladies (2 or more wahine)
Play Kia ora tāne mā Hi, Thank you gentlemen (2 or more tāne)
Play Kia ora e te whānau Hi, Thank you my family (3 or more people)
Play Kia ora e te iwi Hi, Thank you my people (3 or more people)
Play Tēnā koe Greetings, Thank you (1 person)
Play Tēnā kōrua Greetings, Thank you (2 people)
Play Tēnā koutou Greetings, Thank you (3 or more people)
Play Tēnā koutou katoa Greetings, Thank you all (3 or more people)

 

9. Horanuku | Landscape
Play Horanuku Landscape
Play Aotearoa Land of the long White Cloud
Play Maunga Mountain
Play Motu Island, Country, Land
Play Moana Sea, Ocean, Lake
Play Awa River, Stream, Creek

 

10. Te Tari | The Office
Play Te Tari The Office
Play Hui Meeting, information in one direction
Play Wānanga Meeting, Facilitation or Workshop
Play Mihi to greet, pay tribute
Play Mihimihi The process of sharing your mihi
Play Whakatau Formal welcome
Play Mihi Whakatau Formal welcome speech, greeting
Play Whakahoki Reply or respond 
Play Mihi Whakahoki Formal reply to initial speech/greeting
Play Whakamutunga Conclusion
Play Mihi Whakamutunga Formal concluding speech
Play Poroporoaki Farewell, Eulogy
Play Whakakapi to close or finish (used in Poroporoaki)
Play Mihi Whakakapi Closing speech (used in Poroporoaki)

 

11. Ngā mihi o te Raumati | Greetings for Summer
Play Meri Kirihimete Merry Christmas
Play Ngā mihi o te wā Season’s greetings
Play Ngā mihi o te tau hou Happy Māori New Year
Play Ngā mihi o te tau hou Pākehā Happy New Year (1st of January)
Play Ngā mihi o te tau hou Māori Happy Matariki
Play Ngā mihi nui mo te Kirihimete Wishing you a very happy Christmas
Play Kua tae mai rā ngā hararei The holidays have arrived
Play Kia pai ngā hararei Make those holidays good
Play Hana Kōkō Santa Claus
Play Perehana Presents
Play Tiakarete Chocolate