Vocabulary
(See Teaching te reo Māori effectively for more language that is useful for the classroom.)
Classroom objects
| Māori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| akomanga | classroom |
| kaiako | teacher |
| kāpata | cupboard |
| karaka | clock |
| kūaha | door |
| kura | school |
| kutikuti | scissors |
| makatiti | stapler |
| matapihi, wini | window |
| mea | thing |
| papamā | whiteboard |
| papatuhituhi | blackboard |
| peita | paint |
| pēke | bag |
| pene | pen |
| pene hinu | crayon |
| pene rākau | pencil |
| pepa | paper |
| pikitia | picture |
| pukapuka | book |
| raiti | light |
| rapa, ūkui | rubber |
| rorohiko | computer |
| rūri | ruler |
| tēpu | table |
| tūru | chair |
| whāriki | mat |
Pronouns
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| au, ahau | I, me |
| ia | he/she |
| koe | you (one person) |
| kōrua | you (two people) |
| koutou | you (three or more people) |
| nōku/nāku | mine |
| nōna/āna | hers/his |
| nōu/nāu | yours |
Colours
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| kahurangi, kikorangi | blue |
| kākāriki | green |
| karaka | orange |
| kōwhai | yellow |
| mā | white |
| māwhero | pink |
| pango, mangu | black |
| pāpura | purple |
| parauri, paraone | brown |
| whero | red |
Learning areas
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| hangarau | technology |
| hauora | health and physical education |
| ngā reo | languages |
| ngā toi | the arts |
| pāngarau | mathematics |
| pūtaiao | science |
| tikanga ā-iwi | social sciences |
PE instructions
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| E oma! | Run! |
| E peke! | Jump! |
| Oma atu! | Run away! |
| Oma mai! | Run back! |
| Waewae takahia! | Stamp (your) feet! |
| E huri! | Turn around! |
| Hītoki! | Hop! |
| Ringa ki runga! | Hands up! |
| Ngaoki! | Crawl! |
| Kanikani! | Dance! |
| Whakahokia ngā kēmu. | Put the games back. |
Greetings and farewells
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Tēnā koe. | Hello (to one person). |
| Kia ora. | Hi. |
| Ata mārie. | Good morning. |
| Mōrena. | Good morning. |
| Haere rā. | Goodbye (to someone who is leaving). |
| E noho rā. | Goodbye (to someone who is staying behind). |
| Hei konei. | See you here again. |
| Ka kite anō/āpōpō/ākuanei. | See you again/tomorrow/soon. |
| Pō mārie. | Good night. |