Useful language for the classroom
Greeting
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Tēnā koe | Hello (to one person) |
| Tēnā kōrua | Hello (to two people) |
| Tēnā koutou | Hello (to more than two people) |
| Kia ora | Hi |
| Mōrena | Good morning |
| Ata mārie | Good morning |
| Ahiahi mārie | Good afternoon |
| Pō mārie | Good evening - Goodnight |
| ... tamariki mā | ... children |
| ... e tama mā | ... boys and others |
| ... e hine mā | ... girls and others |
| Kei te pēhea koe? | How are you? (to one person) |
| Kei te pai | Fine |
Farewelling
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kua hoki au | I’m off |
| Ka kite anō | See you again |
| Hei konā rā | Goodbye for now (said by someone leaving or on the phone) |
| Hei konei rā | Bye/See you later (said to someone leaving) |
| Hoki pai atu! | Safe return! |
| Haere atu rā | Bye (said to someone who is leaving) |
Introducing
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Ko Mere tēnei | This is Mere |
| Ko wai tō ingoa? | What’s your name? |
| Ko Hōne | It’s Hōne |
| Nō hea koe? | Where are you from? |
| Nō Kāi Tahu | From Kāi Tahu |
| Nō te Tai Tokerau | From Northland |
Expressing surprise
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| E kī! | Well, well! |
| E kī rā! | You don’t say! |
| Nē? | Is that so? |
| Nē rā! | You don’t say! |
| Āe mārika! | How about that! |
| E hika mā! | Oh, boy! |
| Taukiri e! | Surprise! |
| Auē! | Oh, no! Oh dear! |
Congratulating
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Tino pai! | Great stuff! |
| Tino pai rawa atu! | Excellent! |
| Ka pai! | Well done! |
| Ka rawe! | How lovely! |
| Mīharo! | Wonderful! |
Extending good wishes
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kia ū | All the best |
| Ngā mihi mō tō huritau | Best wishes for your birthday |
Commiserating
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Ka aroha hoki! | You poor thing! |
| Aroha mai! | I’m so sorry! |
Thanking
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kia ora | Thanks |
| Kia ora koe! | Thank you! |
| Aroha ana! | Thank you! |
Commenting on the weather
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Te makariri hoki o te rangi! | It’s really cold! |
| Tino pai te rangi, nē rā? | Lovely day, isn’t it? |
Clarifying
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kua mārama? | Understood? |
| He aha te kupu Māori mō ...? | What is the Māori word for ...? |
| Kua mutu? | Finished? |
Suggesting
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Me tīmata tātou? | Shall we start? |
| Me haere tāua | Let’s go (that is, you and I) |
| Me hoki koe ki te kāinga | You should go home |
| Me whakarongo koutou | You should listen |
| Me kōrero koe ki a ia | You should speak to him/her |
| Me kai tātou | Let’s eat |
Expressing likes and dislikes
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| He pai ki a au te heihei | I like chicken |
| Kāore e pai ki a au te ika | I don’t like fish |
Commanding
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Titiro (mai) | Look (this way) |
| Huri mai | Turn this way |
| Huri atu | Turn away |
| Kōrero | Speak |
| Whakarongo mai | Listen here |
| E tū | Stand |
| E noho | Sit down |
| Kia tau | Be still, Settle down |
| Kōrero Māori mai | Speak to me in Māori |
| Kimihia | Look for it |
| Whakahokia tēnei pukapuka | Return this book |
| Kia rua ngā kape | Make two copies |
| Kawea atu ki waho! | Take it outside! |
| Haere ki waho | Go outside |
| Ināianei tonu | Right now |
| Kia tere! | Be quick! |
| Kaua e pēnā! | Don’t do that! |
| Kaua e kōrero! | Be quiet! Don’t talk! |
| Kaua e wareware | Don’t forget |
| Turituri! | Be quiet! |
| Hoihoi | Be quiet |
| Tīkina | Fetch |
| Taihoa | Wait |
| Rārangi mai | Line up here, near me |
| Rārangi atu | Line up over there |
| Rārangi ki waho/roto | Line up outside/inside |
| Horoia ō ringaringa | Wash your hands |
| Whakamaua tō potae | Put on your hat |
| Tangohia ō hū | Take off your shoes |
| Hoatu ki ... | Give to ... |
| Huakina te kūaha | Open the door |
| Katia te kūaha | Shut the door |
| Kuhu mai ki roto | Come inside |
| Haere mai ki konei | Come over here |
| Kohia te rāpihi | Collect the rubbish |
| Hoki mai ki roto | Come back inside |
| Hoki atu ki tō tūru | Go back to your seat |
| Whakapaingia te rūma | Tidy the room |
| Kia takitoru, takiwhā rānei | Form groups of three or four |
Helping
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Mā mātou e horoi ngā rīhi | We’ll wash the dishes |
| Māku e āwhina | I’ll help |
| Māku e whakaweto ngā raiti | I’ll turn off the lights |
| Māku e kati te kūaha | I’ll shut the door |
Negating
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kaua e tuku rāpihi i konei | Don’t dump rubbish here |
| Kāore anō ia kia tae mai | She/He hasn’t arrived yet |
| Kāore a Pita i konei | Pita isn’t here |
| Kāore i te pai | It’s no good |
| Ehara ko au | It’s not me |
| Ehara nāku | It’s not mine |
Warning
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kia tūpato! | Be careful! |
| Kaua e hīkoi i runga i te karaehe | Don’t walk on the grass |
| Kaua e kuhu/puta | Do not enter/exit |
| Kaua e kai hikareti | Don’t smoke |
| Kaua e huakina/katia | Don’t open/shut |
| Kaua e tū ki konei | Don’t stop/stand here |
| Kaua e kaukau | Don’t swim |
Agreeing and disagreeing
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Ka pai ngā kai, nē? | The food’s lovely, isn’t it? |
| Āe. He kai reka | Yes. It’s delicious food |
| He reka ngā ārani, nē rā? | The oranges are sweet, aren’t they? |
| Kāo, he kawa kē! | No, they’re sour |
| Ka tika! | True! Correct! |
| Karekau! | No! |
| Ehē! | No! |
| Kei te hē tēnā | That’s wrong |
| Kāore au e whakaae | I don’t agree |
| Kāore au e mōhio | I don’t know |
| Aua | I don’t know |
Expressing possibility
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kei te ngaro pea ia | Maybe she’s/he’s absent |
Encouraging
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Kia mau! | Hang in there! |
| Kia kaha! | Be strong, keep going! |
| Kia manawanui! | Be stout-hearted! |
| Kia toa! | Be brave! |
| Ka taea e koe! | You can do it! (said to one person) |
| Homai te pakipaki | Let’s clap |
Questioning
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Ko wai? | Who? |
| He aha? | What? |
| Kei hea? | Where? |
| Kei hea tō ...? | Where’s your ...? |
| Ko wai tēnā? | Who is that? |
| He aha tēnā? | What is that? |
| Kei hea ia? | Where is she/he? |
| Kei hea koe? | Where are you? (to one person) |
| Ko wai te ingoa o tērā kaiako? | What’s that teacher’s name? |
| Kei a wai ...? | Who has got ...? |
| Kei a koe tō pukapuka? | Do you have your book? |
| Nā wai tēnei pukapuka? | Whose is this book? |
| Nā wai ēnei pukapuka? | Whose books are these? |
| Kei te pīrangi koutou ki te haere ki te kaukau? | Do you want to go swimming? (to three or more people) |
Miscellanous
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| E tangi tonu ana te tamaiti | The child’s still crying |
| Kua haere kē ia | She’s/He’s already gone |
| Kua pau katoa ngā pihikete | The biscuits are all gone |
| Kua reri ngā kai | The food’s ready |
| Kei te mā aku ringa | My hands are clean |
| He tiamu tāku hanawiti | My sandwich is a jam one |
| Kua katia te kūaha | The door’s been shut |
| Māku e kati te kūaha | I’ll shut the door |
| Kei te mate ia | She’s/He’s ill |
| Nāku tēnei pukapuka | This book’s mine |
| E haere ana mātou ki te whare pukapuka | We’re going to the library |
| Kei te kai ngā manuhiri | The guests are eating |
| He reka ngā kai katoa | All the food is delicious |
| Ka waea mai ia āpōpō | She’ll/He’ll phone you tomorrow |
| E koa ana ia | She’s/He’s happy |
| Kua reri? | Ready? |
| Kua reri koutou (katoa)? | Are you (all) ready? |
| He moemoeā! | You’re dreaming! |
| Te uaua hoki! | That’s hard! |
| Kua pau taku hau | I’m tired |
| Aroha ana! | Tough! |
| Kua hemo! | I’ve had it! |
| Kaitoa! | Serves you right! |
| Kāti | That’s enough |