TE REO MĀORI
Pronouncing Māori
The Māori alphabet is made up of 15 letters.
The vowels can be either long or short, these are marked by either a macron or a double vowel..
Short - a, e, i, o, u
Long - ā, ē, ī, ō, ū
Affirmations / Encouragement
Āe, marika - Yes, certainly
He rawe tō kōrero - What you have said is excellent
He tika koe! - You are correct
He tino āwhina koe - You have been very helpful
He tino pai tō mahi - Your work is great
Ka pai! - Good!
Ka pai tō pānui - Great reading
Kia manawanui - Keep going
Ka mau te wehi! - Awesome! Fantastic!
Ka pai hoki koe - Good on you
Ka rawe - Awesome
Kei runga noa atu koe! - You're the best!
Kia maia - Be brave
Kia mau - Hang in there!
Kia kaha - Keep going, be strong
Kia manawanui - Be determined
Koia kei a koe! - You're great!
Mahia atu! - Go for it!
Tika - Correct/True
Tino pai - Very good
Greetings & Farewells
Ahiahi mārie - Good afternoon
Ata mārie - Good morning
Hei konei rā - Goodbye!
Ka kite anō - See you again
Kei te pēhea koe? - How are you?
Kei te pai ahau - I am fine
Kia ora - Hello (informal)
Kia pai te rā - Have a good day
Kia pai tō wā whakatā - Have a good holiday!
Ko wai tō ingoa? - What's your name?
Mā te wā - Until next time
Nau mai, haere mai - Welcome!
Ngā mihi o te ata - Good morning
Nō hea koe? - Where do you belong? / Where are you from?
Nō Tamaki Makau rau - I am from Auckland
Pō mārie - Good evening
Tēnā kōrua - Hello (to two)
Tēnā koutou - Hello (to three or more)
Instructions
E noho - Sit down
E tū - Stand up
Haere mai ko konei! - Come here!
Homai - pass/give (to me)
Homai te pukapuka/pene - Give me the book/pen
Kei hea te pene? - Where is the pen?
Kia tere - Be quick
Me kai tātou - Let's eat
Me waitata tātou - Let's sing
Titiro mai - Look
Whakarongo mai - Listen
Words and phrases we used in our pōwhiri
Haere mai - Welcome! Enter!
Nau mai - Welcome
Karanga - the ceremony of calling to the guests to welcome them
Manuhiri - Guests, visitors
Tangata whenua - Original people belonging to a place
Waiata - Song that follows someone speaking
Iwi - people, tribe
Kaumātua - Elder(s)
Rangatira - Person of chiefly rank
Hongi - To press noses in greeting and welcome
Karakia - A prayer/chant