Te reo Māori glossary
A list of te reo Māori words used throughout the Tākai website and resources.
We use te reo Māori throughout our website and resources. You can click on each word or phrase to hear how to pronounce it. You'll see this feature in many pages of our website.
Our definitions are context-based and don't always include all definitions for a kupu . Visit our friends at Te Aka Māori Dictionary(external link) for more definitions and words.
A
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| āe | yes |
| Āhuru Mōwai | A sheltered haven – document supporting parent education |
| ako | learn, teach |
| ao | world |
| aotūroa | nature, this world |
| ara | path |
| aroha | love |
| ātaahua | beautiful |
| atua | god |
| au | I |
| awa | river |
H
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| haka | haka |
| hapū | pregnant, subtribe |
| haumaru | safe, secure |
| haututū | playful, inquisitive |
| hīkoi | walk |
| hinengaro | mind, thought, heart |
| hononga | link, connection |
| hue | gourd |
| hui | gathering |
I
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| ipu | container |
| iti | small |
| iwi | tribe |
K
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| kaha | strength |
| kai | food |
| kaiako | teacher |
| kaimahi | staff, worker |
| kāinga | home |
| kaitiaki | guardian, caregiver, carer |
| kākano | seed |
| kanohi ki te kanohi | face to face |
| kāore | no |
| karakia | prayer |
| katakata | laughter |
| kaupapa | main topic of interest, workshop topic |
| kawa | ceremonial practice |
| kēmu | game |
| kia tūpato | be careful |
| koha | gift |
| kōhanga reo | Māori language preschool |
| kōhatu | stone |
| kope | nappy |
| kōrero | talk |
| koro | grandfather |
| koru | fern frond or spiral shape |
| kuia | grandmother, female elder |
| kupu | word |
| kupu hou | new word |
M
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| mahi | work |
| mahi tī | make tea |
| māia | confidence |
| māmā | mother |
| mana | power |
| manaaki | care and nurture |
| manaakitanga | hospitality |
| manawa | heart |
| māra | garden |
| maramataka | Māori lunar calendar |
| māramatanga | to understand something |
| Matariki | Māori New Year and the Pleiades star cluster |
| mātauranga | learning, education, knowledge |
| mātauranga Māori | Māori knowledge |
| matua | father, parent, uncle |
| mātua | parents |
| Māui | a demi god |
| maunga | mountain |
| mihi | greet |
| mirimiri | massage |
| moana | sea |
| moe | sleep, dream |
| mōhio | to know about something |
| mokopuna | grandchildren, grandchild |
| motuhake | special |
N
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| ngā tohu whānau | section in Whakatipu – 6 principles |
| ngahere | bush |
| nui | big |
O
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| oriori | lullaby |
P
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| pakeke | grown up, adult, mature |
| pakipaki | clap |
| pakiwaitara | section in Whakatipu – legend or story |
| pāngarau | maths |
| pānui | read |
| pātiki | flounder |
| pepeha | introduction that establishes identity and heritage |
| pēpi | baby |
| pito | umbilical cord |
| poutama | step-like pattern |
| pukapuka | book |
| pūrākau | story |
| pūtea | bag, purse, finances |
| putiputi | flower |
R
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| rākau | tree, stick |
| rangatahi | younger generation, youth |
| rangatira | leader, chief |
| Rangiātea | ancient name associated with Hawaiki |
| Ranginui | atua (god) of the sky |
| rauemi | resource |
| ringaringa | hands |
| rongoā | take care of, heal |
| Rongomātāne | atua (god) of the kūmara and cultivated food |
| Rūaumoko | atua (god) of earthquakes |
T
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| taha | side (aspect) |
| taha hinengaro | healthy mind |
| taha tinana | healthy body |
| taha wairua | healthy spirit |
| taha whānau | healthy family |
| taiao | natural world |
| taihoa | wait |
| taitai niho | toothbrush |
| tākaro | play |
| taku | mine |
| taku mahi | my work |
| Tamanuiterā | personification and sacred name of the sun |
| tamaiti | child |
| tamariki | children |
| Tāne Mahuta | atua (god) of the forests and birds |
| Tangaroa | atua (god) of the sea and fish |
| tangata | person |
| tangata whenua | people of the land, hosts |
| tāniko | weaving |
| taonga | treasure |
| taonga puoro | musical instrument |
| taonga tākaro | toys, play things |
| tāruarua | repetition |
| taumaha | weight, heaviness, burden |
| Tāwhirimātea | atua (god) of the winds, clouds, rain, hail, snow and storms |
| te hau | the wind |
| te hinengaro mīharo | the amazing brain |
| te kōhuri | the sprout |
| te māhuri | the small tree, sapling |
| te reo Māori | Māori language |
| tiaki | care and protect |
| tika | correct |
| tikanga | correct procedure, custom, protocol |
| tinana | body |
| tipuna | ancestor, grandparent |
| tīpuna | ancestors, grandparents |
| tohu | sign, symbol |
| tohutohu | guide |
| tōku | my |
| tōku ao | my world |
W
|
Te reo Māori |
English |
|---|---|
| wai | water |
| waiata | song |
| waiata ā-ringa | action songs |
| waiata kōhungahunga | children’s songs |
| wairua | spirit |
| wānanga | to meet and discuss (verb) seminar (noun) |
| whakahirahira | inspiring |
| whakamā | to be ashamed, shy, bashful |
| whakamutunga | end, conclusion |
| whakanui | to enlarge, celebrate |
| whakapaipai makawe | do hair |
| whakapapa | genealogy |
| whakatau | settle |
| whakataukī | a Māori proverb, message |
| whakatipu | to raise, cause to grow – name of Tākai resource |
| whakatuwhera | open |
| whakawhanaungatanga | getting to know each other |
| whānau | Family group |
| whanaunga | kin |
| whare | house |
| whare tangata | womb |
| whatumanawa | the seat of emotions, heart |
| whenua | land, placenta |