Māori Word Lists
Level 4
a - [a name follows] | Not translatable into an English word; nominal particle, used before names and pronouns: a Mere, a kōrua, a ia.
āe - yes
aewa - unhealthy
aha - what
ahakoa - although
ahau - I, me
ahi - fire
ahiahi - early evening, afternoon
Ahitereiria - Australia
aho - light, to shine
ahokore - wifi
ahu - to look after
āhua - shape, form, appearance
āhuatanga - property, characteristic, feature, circumstance (āhua + nominal suffix -tanga)
ai - Not translatable into an English word; verbal particle; used in various subordinate structures, for example relative clauses, adverbials, ...ai
aihe - dolphin
aihikirīmi - icecream
aikiha - handkerchief
Airani - Ireland
aituā - disaster, accident, misfortune; to suffer a disaster
ākau - shore, coast
ake - up, upwards (Various uses and meanings, eg upwards, as in: piki ake, titiro ake; comparative as in: nui ake; own, as in: tōku whānau ake)
Āketina - Argentina
ako - to learn, to teach
akomanga - classroom
ākona - (pass) be learned; be taught (pass. of ako)
ākonga - student
akoranga - thing that is taught or learnt; lesson
aku - my, mine (plural form of taku, neutral for possession category)
Ākuhata - August
āmaimai - nervous
Amerika - America
amuamu - groan, grumble, complain
ana - indeed, when, if
anake - only, just, alone
anei - here, by me
anga - seashell
angaanga - head; sea shell
anō - again, also (Various meanings, eg again; also, too; self [reflexive] as in: ki a ia anō)
anuanu - disgusting; disgusted
anuhea - ugly
ao - world, dawn, cloud
aorangi - planet
Aotearoa - New Zealand
Āperira - April
āpōpō - tomorrow
āporo - apple
apuapu - gobble
arā - over there, away from us both; that is, namely
arahanga - bridge; ladder
araheke - stairs
ārahi - to lead, guide
ārahina - (pass) be led
ārai - curtain; to screen off, block
āraia - (pass) be warded off
Aranga - Easter; risen (n)
ārani - orange [fruit]
Ararā! - There!
arata - lettuce
arataki - to guide; to lead
aratakina - (pass) be guided; be led
arawhata - bridge; ladder; stairs
arero - tongue; point of taiaha
arewhana - elephant
ariā - feeling; theory, concept
ariā hirahira - special effects
ariki - chief, leader
aro - to face, turn towards, take notice of, pay attention to
aroaro - front; presence
aroha - love, sympathy, compassion
aroha mai - sorry (show me some sympathy)
arohaina - (pass) be loved
aromatawai - assessment
aronga - direction
arotahi - contact lens
āta - gently, carefully, deliberately
ātaahua - beautiful, well formed
atamai - clever, intelligent
atamira - platform, stage
ātārangi - shadow
atarau - moonlight
atarua - bad eyesight
atawhai - to show kindness towards
ate - liver; seat of affections
ātea - outer space
āti - descendant
atu - away from current orientation
(often not translatable by a separate English word)
atua - god
āu - your, ā category possession (plural form of tāu)
aua - those (previously mentioned, plural of taua)
auahi - smoke
auau - to bark, howl
auē! - alas!
aukume - magnet
autaha - to one side
autāne - brother-in-law (of a woman)
auwahine - sister-in-law (of a man)
awa - river, stream
awaawa - valley
āwangawanga - worried
awatea - daylight
āwhā - storm
Awherika - Africa
awhi - to hug, embrace
āwhina - to help
āwhiowhio - whirlpool; whirlwind
awhitia - to be embraced (pass - awhi + tia)
e - by; of course; a term of address follows; [in the future]; particle used in a negation
e ai ki - according to, in someone else's opinion
E hē! - No! that's wrong!
e hia? - how many?
e hoa - friend (when speaking to someone)
e hoa mā - friends (when speaking to a group of people)
e kō! - girl!
e kore e taea - impossible
e noho - sit down
e noho rā - farewell (said by those leaving), goodbye to people staying
e tika! - well, well!
e tū - Stand up!
e whia? - how many?
ea - be avenged; be paid for; worth
ehara - exclamation: sure enough, without a doubt; not
ehara i te hanga! - it is no ordinary thing!
ēhea? - which (plural)?
eke - to embark, get onto; riding
ekengia - (pass) to be boarded; to be climbed; to be earned
ēnā - those, near you (plural of tēnā)
ēnei - these, near me (plural of tēnei)
engari - but
ērā - those (over there)
erangi - but
ētahi - some, a few (plural of tētahi)
ētehi - some (plural of tētehi, variant of ētahi)
ēwhea? - which? (plural)
hā - breath; flavour
hae - to cut; jealous
haea - (pass) to be cut
haeana - iron (for clothes)
haeata - beam of light; dawn; laser beam
haere - go, come
haere mā raro - to travel on foot
Haere mai! - Welcome! Come here!
haere rā - goodbye to people going
hāereere - to wander, roam
haerenga - journey (n); travel (v)
hāhi - church, religion
hai - as, for (variant of hei)
Haina - China
hainatanga - signature; signing
hāka - jar
hākari - feast
hake - hockey
hākerekere - crowd; hair cut short
haki - flag
Hakihea - December
hākinakina - sport; to play sport
hākirikiri - vague
hāmama - open, gaping
hāmamamama - yawn
hāmana - salmon
hamarara - umbrella
hāmeme - grumble; mutter
hāmipēka - hamburger
Hana - Santa Claus, Father Christmas
hanawiti - sandwich
hāneanea - sofa
hanga - to build, erect, make (v); construction, practice (n)
hāngai - opposite, facing
hangaia - built (hanga + passive suffix -ia)
hāngi - traditional earth oven
hao - to catch in a net, a net
hāora - hour; oxygen
hapa - mistake; supper, dinner
hāparangi - to shout, bawl
hāpiapia - sellotape; glue
hapū - subtribe; to be pregnant
hara - to make a mistake; mistake
harakeke - flax
haramai - to arrive
hararei - holiday
Haratua - May
harawene - jealous
hari - to feel happy; to take or carry
haria - to be carried (hari + passive suffix -a)
harikoa - happy, joyful, euphoric
harore - mushroom
haruru - to resound; a heavy sound
hātakēhi - hard case, comical, amusing
hāte - shirt
hau - wind, air, breath
hauhake - harvest
haunga - smelly
hauora - health, healthy
haurangi - drunk
haurua - half
hautō - drawer; chest of drawers
hauwhā - quarter
hāwhe - half (n); to halve (v)
hē - wrong; error, mistake
he aha? - what?
hea - where?
hea? - where?
heahea - silly
hei - at, in, with, for, to, as a; hay; necklace (Various meanings, eg future preposition)
hei aha! - never mind!
hei aha? - what for?
hei konei rā - goodbye (said by those leaving)
hei mahi - exercises
heihei - chicken
heke - rafter (n); to descend, get off (v)
hekenga - descent (heke + nominal suffix -nga)
hekerangi - parachute
heketua - toilet (that you sit on when you're in the wharepaku)
hēki - egg
hemo - to pass by, be gone; died, die
hēneti - cents
heoi anō - however; so so
hēpapa - zebra
hēpara - shepherd
here - to tie, to bind (v0: dog lead (n)
Here-turi-kōkā - August
herea - tied up (here + passive suffix -a)
heru - comb
hetiheti - hedgehog
hī - to catch fish with a line
hīa - to be fished with a line (pass. of hi)
hia? - how many?
hiahia - to want
hiainu - thirst, thirsty
hiakai - hungry
hiamo - excited
hiawai - thirsty
hika - a term of address for both sexes (eg 'E hika')
hiki - to carry in the arms, to nurse
hikihiki - to nurse (v); ski lift (n)
hiko - electricity
hīkoi - to walk, step, tread
hīmoemoe - grapefruit
hine - term of address for a girl: E hine!
hinengaro - mind, intellect
hinga - to fall from an upright position; to fall (and not be able to get up again)
Hingapoa - Singapore
hingareti - singlet
hinu - oil, fat
hipi - sheep
hipohipo - hippopotamus
hīrere - to rush; waterfall; shower
hiripa - slipper
hiriwiri - screwdriver
hīti - sheet
hoa - friend; partner; spouse
hōanga - sandpaper
hoariri - enemy, opponent
hoatu - to give (away from speaker)
hoe - to paddle, row (v); oar (n)
hoe waka - canoeing
hōhā - annoyed, bored (adj), a nuisance (n)
hōhonu - deep (adj); depth (n)
hōia - soldier, warrior
hōia taputapu tākaro - toy soldiers
hōiho - horse
hōiho pīoio - rocking horse
hoihoi - too noisy
hoki - to go back, return; also, indeed
hokia - returned (pass. of hoki)
hokinga - return
(hoki + nominal suffix -nga)
hoko - to buy, sell, purchase
hokomaha - supermarket
hokona - sold (hoko + passive suffix -na)
homai - give (to the speaker)
hongi - pressing noses
Hongongoi - July
honu - turtle
hōpane - saucepan
hope - waist, hip
hopi - soap
hopu - to catch
hōpua kaukau - swimming pool
hopukia - caught (pass. of hopu)
hora - display; scatter; spread out
horahia - (pass) be spread out; be displayed
hōro - hall
horoi - to wash, to clean
horoia - washed (pass of horoi)
horomi - to swallow
horomia - swallowed (pass. of horomi)
horowai - waterfall
hōtiti totetote - salami
hou - new, modern; feather
hū - shoe
hua - product, fruit
huaki - open
huakina - to open (huaki + passive suffix -na)
huarahi - street, path, road
hui - meeting; gathered
Huitanguru - February
Huitene - Sweden
Huiterangi - Switzerland
huka - sugar
hukapapa - frost
hukarere - snow
hūmārie - humble, easy going
huna - to hide
Hūrae - July
huri - to turn
hurihia - be turned; be changed (pass of huri)
hurihuri - to turn round and round, over and over
huripara - wheelbarrow
huritau - birthday
huruhuru - fur
hūtu - suit (clothing)
hutupōro - rugby ball
i - object of the sentence, from; concerning; in; in the past; on; → | Several uses; not always translatable with a specific English word.
Past tense verb particle: I haere ia ... She went
Past time marker: I tērā wiki ... Last week
Direct object marker: Ka kai ia i te āporo.
Source marker (from): Kua hoki mai au i te kura.
i te taha - at the side, with
ia - he, she, him, her
iāri - yard
ihi - power, essential force
iho - downwards
ihu - nose
ika - fish
ina - if, when
ināianei - now
inanahi - yesterday
īnanga - whitebait
inapō - last night
inarapa - rubber
ine mahana - thermometer
ineroa - tape measure
Ingarangi - England
ingoa - name
inoi - pray
inu - to drink (v); drink (n)
inumia - [the liquid was] drunk (inu + mia; pass)
iPapa - iPad
ipu - container, bowl; drinking glasses
ipu para - rubbish bag
ipu peita - paint pot
ipui para - rubbish
ipurangi - internet
ira - freckle; gene
iraira - freckle
irāmutu - niece, nephew
iri - to be hanging; rest upon
iriiri - baptise
iroiro - vermin
iroriki - germ
ita - held firm; be committed
Itāria - Italy
iti - small, little
itiiti - tiny
iwa - nine
iwi - tribe
iwi whānui - the public
ka - will happen | Verbal particle with a range of meanings; not directly translated with an English word
ka pai! - good!
kaha - strong, able
kahaki - kidnap; hijack
kahakina - (pass) be hijacked; be kidnapped
kaharoa - large drag net
kāheru - spade
kāho - barrel
kāhore - Negative used for verb sentences
kāhu - harrier; hawk; chief
kahu kiwi - cloak made from kiwi feathers
kahu moe - pyjamas
kahu tangatanga - dressing gown
kāhui - group; cluster; flock
kāhui ariki - those of the highest rank
kahukahu - dressing gown
kahurangi - dark blue; woman of high status or rank
kahuwae - tights
kai - eat (v); food (n)
kai inati - overdose
kai kurī - dog food
kai paipa - smoke cigarettes
kai roro - quiz
kaiahuwhenua - farmer
kaiaka - merit
kaiaka-mīhini - mechanic
kaiako - teacher (kai- + ako)
kaiamo mēra - postie
kaiārahi - leader, guide
kaiauru - vandal
kaieke hōiho - bareback rider
kaieke paihikara - trick cyclist
kaihana - cousin
kaihanga - creator; builder
kaihautū - leader; bus driver, pilot, truck driver
kaihe - donkey
kaihī - fisherman
kaihī ika - fisherman
kaihoko - seller
kaiiwi - strangers, foreigners
kaikā - eager, impatient
kaikaha - keen
kaikamo - eye
kaikanikani - dancer
kaikōhuru - murderer
kaikōrero - speaker, orator (kai- + kōrero)
kaikuti makawe - hairdresser
kaimahi - worker, employee (kai- + mahi)
kaimanga - vegetarian
kaimātai whatu - optician
kaimoana - seafood
kainga - (pass) be eaten
kāinga - home
kaingākau - passion; like
kaipakihi - business
kaipara - athlete; athletics
kaipatu ahi - firefighter
kaipōkai tūārangi - astronaut
kaiponu - selfish; greedy
kaipuke - ship
kaipūtaiao - scientist (kai- + pūtaiao)
kairangi - excellence
kairapu hara - detective
kaireperepe - relation by marriage
kairīpoata - journalist
kairuku - diver
kaitā - big, sturdy of build
kaitaka - fine cloak with ornamental border; whipping-top
kaitākaro - player, sportsperson
(kai- + tākaro)
kaitapere - actor, actress
kaitaraiwa pahi - bus driver
kaitiaki - caretaker, caregiver (kai- + tiaki)
kaitiakitanga - guardianship
kaitiora - pirate
kaitirotiro - inspector
kaititiro - spectator
kaitoa! - serves you right!
kaitohutohu - coach (sports)
kaituhi - writer, author
kaituku mahi - employer
kaituku miraka - milkman
kaiurungi - pilot
kaiwaiata - singer
kaiwawao - referee, umpire
kaiwhakahaere - manager, organiser (kai- + whakahaere)
kaka - hair; fibre; ridge; dress
kākahu - clothing, garment
kakama - quick; active; smart, clever
kākano - seed
kākāriki - green
kakau - handle
kake - to climb
kakī - neck
kamo - eye; eyelashes
kamokamo - twinkle; marrow, squash (the vegetable)
kamupūtu - gumboot
kanga - abuse; curse
kānga wai - rotten corn, formented corn
kāngia - (pass) be lit, be burnt
kanikani - dance, to dance
kano - colour
kanohi - face
kāo - no!
kāore - negative used for verb sentences
kāore anō - not yet...
kapa - group, row of people, as in: kapa haka
kāpata - cupboard
kape - photocopy, copy; crescent (shape)
kāpene - captain
kāpeti - cabbage
kapi - to be covered or occupied (of space), filled with
kāpia - glue
kapo - to grasp, snatch; flash; lightning
kapu - cup
kapua - cloud
kaputī - cup of tea
kara - colour
karaehe - class (school); glass
karaka - orange (colour)
karakia - prayer, to pray
karanga - to call
karangahia - called (karanga + -hia; pass)
karani - granny, grandmother
kararehe - animal
karawhiua! - give it heaps!
kare - stove, heater
karere - message
kāreti - carrot
kāri - playing card
karia - (pass) be dug
karo - dodge, avoid
karu - eye
kata - to laugh
kātahi - then
katakata - to laugh and laugh, laughter
kāti - stop! (as in: kāti te tangi)
kato - pluck
kau - swim; cow
kaua e - don't
kauae - chin
kauaka - Negative word, do not (variant of kaua; eg:
Kauaka e tangi)
kauhoe - to swim
kauhoetia - swum (pass. of kaohoe)
kaukau - to bathe
kaumātua - elder; elderly
kaupapa - topic, theme, plan, subject
kaupeka - season
kāuta - cooking shed, cookhouse
kaute - to count
kauwhata - graph
kawa - sour, yuck
kāwana - government, governor
kāwanatanga - government (kāwana + nominal suffix -tanga)
kawe - to carry, convey
kawea - brought (kawe + passive suffix -a)
kawenga - load, luggage, burden
(kawe + nominal suffix -nga)
kāwhe - calf
kē - already; different; other; differently; rather; strange; actually
kēhua - ghost
kei - Various uses, meanings, eg:
preposition, present time and place location; at the moment; it might be that...
kei hea? - where is?
kei te pai - it's okay; I'm fine
keke - cake
kekeno - seal
kēmu - game
kerepe - grape
kererū - native pigeon
keri - dig
kete - basket, kit
ki - to, at, →; | Has various uses and meanings
kī - to be full
kia - may you be; may we be; let it be that; | Various uses, meanings. Often not translatable by an English word.
Kia ita! - Be committed!
Kia kaha! - Be strong!
Kia māhaki! - Be pleasant!
Kia māia! - Be brave!
Kia manawanui! - Be patient, committed, steadfast!
Kia mataara! - Be alert!
Kia mauritau! - Be settled!
Kia ngākau titikaha! - Be confident!
Kia ngākaunui! - Be strong hearted!
Kia ngāwari! - Be easy (lighten up)!
Kia niwha! - Be resolute!
kia ora - hello; thank you; be well
Kia pai! - Be nice!
Kia piki te ora! - Be better!
Kia pono! - Be truthful!
Kia tapatahi! - Be fair, principled!
Kia tau! - Be relaxed!
Kia tika! - Be correct!
Kia tū pakari! - Be robust!
Kia ū! - Be resolute, unyielding!
kīhai - Negative word
kihi - kiss (v); key (n)
kīhini - kitchen
kiki - kick
kikorangi - blue sky; dark blue
kimi - to look for, seek
kimihia - sought; look for! (kimi + passive suffix -hia)
kina - sea urchin
kino - bad
kiore - rat
kiri - skin
Kirihimete - Christmas
kirikiri - sand
Kirikiriroa - Hamilton
kirīmi - cream
kiromita - kilometre
kite - to see
kitea - seen (kite + passive suffix -a)
kitenga - observation, seeing (kite + nominal suffix -nga)
kiwi - native bird of Aotearoa
kiwikiwi - grey
ko - is, are (Various uses; not usually translatable with an English word), [equals], [topic marker]
koa - happy
koata - quarter
koe - you, one person
koha - gift
kōhanga - nest, preschool, nursery
kōhanga reo - Māori language preschool
kōhatu - stone
kohete - scold, reprimand, rebuke
kohi - to collect, gather together
kohia - (pass) be collected; be gathered
kohikohi - to collect, gather together
Kohitātea - January
kōhumuhumu - whisper; murmur; short hair
kōhuru - to murder
koi - sharp
koia - it is, so
koinei - this is
kōiwi - bone
kōkā - mother, aunt
kōkiri - to charge, rush at, to thrust forward, attack
koko - scoop; shovel; spoon; corner (of a room, house, etc)
komuri - backwards
konā - there, by listener
konei - here, by speaker
koneke - rollerblades; skating; sledge; to slide along
kongakonga - small piece, fragment
konganuku - metal
kongene - withered; wrinkled
kōngenge - exhausted
kōngutu - mouth of river
konihi - stealthy
konohete - concert
kōnohi - grieve; yearn
kōnui - thumb; big toe
kopa - disappear; crippled; sandal; wallet; schoolbag
kōpae - disc
kōpaepae pūoru - compact disc (CD)
kōpani - to shut
kōpapa - surfboard
kōpara - bellbird
kopareti - skates
kope - nappy
kōpere - a dart; a sling; rainbow
kōpiko - meander
kōpikopiko - wandering; winding
kōporo - van
kōpū - belly, womb
kōpua - deep (water)
kōpure - blotchy, spotted; ladybird
kora - fragment; spark
koraha - open country; desert; mud-flats
kōrakorako - fairies
kōrangaranga - ache
kōrapa - cage
kōrapu - flash; shine
kore - zero, nothing
kore mahi - unemployed
kōrea - wheelchair
kōrengarenga - crushed; overflowing
kōrere - tap; diarrhoea
kōrero - to talk, speak
kōrero pūrākau - folk-tales, stories, legends
kōrerorero - to discuss (v); discussion (n)
kōrerotia - spoken (kōrero + passive suffix -tia)
koretake - useless
kōreti - kayak
kōriha - gorilla
korikori - move; wriggle
korikori tinana - exercise
korimako - bellbird
koro - term of address for an elderly man, grandfather (E koro)
koroahu - steam
koroheke - old man
korokoro - loose; throat; palate
koropungapunga - porous; decayed; pumice
koropupū - bubble up; to boil
kororā - little blue penguin
kōrori - stir
korōria - glory
koroua - elderly man, grandfather
korowai - cloak
korōwha - golf
korowhio - whistle
koru - coiled; shape of fern shoot
kōrua - you, two people
kōruarua - hole; pit
korukoru - wrinkle
kota - cockle-shell; sawdust
kotahi - one
kotahitanga - unity
kōtare - kingfisher
kotere - swelling
koti - coat, jacket
kotikara - finger; fingernail; toe; toenail
kotikoti - cut to pieces; divide lands; striped
kotinga - division; boundary line
kōtingotingo - speckled
Kotirangi - Scotland
kōtiro - girl
kotiti - be displaced; move aside
kōtuku - white heron
kounga - quality
kōura - crayfish
koutou - you, three or more people
kōwhai - yellow; a native tree
kōwhiri - choose
kua - then; have; has; had | Verbal particle; indicating completed action or movement into a state
kūaha - door
kūare - ignorant
kuhu - to enter, to go or come in
kuhua - (pass) be entered; be put on (clothes)
kui - Term of address for an elderly woman (eg 'E kui'.)
kuia - elderly woman, grandmother
kuihi - goose
kuini - queen
kukume - to pull, to drag
kūmara - kūmara, sweet potato
kumu - buttocks, bottom
kupenga - net
kupu - word
kura - school; treasured item
kurī - dog
kurupae - beam
kūtai - mussel
kutarere - scooter
kutikuti - scissors
mā - clean, white
Maehe - March
maha - many
māhanga - twin(s)
mahara - thought, memory
māharahara - worry (n); anxious (adj)
māhau - for you
(variant of māu)
mahere - map, plan
mahi - to do, work, make
mahi kāinga - home work
mahia - worked (mahi + passive suffix -a)
māhita - teacher
mahue - to be left behind (trans)
māhunga - head
Mahuru - September
mai - towards the speaker in space or in orientation; to here
mai i te - passed
māia - capable, brave, bold
maika - banana (also panana)
mairō - milo
maka - to throw or pass
makaia - (pass) be thrown
makariri - cold
makawe - hair of the head (human, used in plural: ngā makawe)
makere - to get down from
makimaki - monkey
mako - shark
māku - for me, by me
māmā - mother (n); easy, simple (adj)
mamae - hurt, sore, pain
māna - for him, her, by him, her
manaaki - to look after, to show hospitality towards
manaakitanga - hospitality, kindness, generosity
manawa - heart
Mane - Monday
manga - branch; stream
māngere - lazy
mangu - black
mania - slippery; smooth; to slide
mano - thousand
manu - bird
manuhiri - guest
mānukanuka - worry; doubt; anxiety; anxious
maoa - cooked; ripe
Māori - indigenous people of Aotearoa/New Zealand
māra - garden
marae - traditional Māori gathering place
mārama - clear, understand
maramara - crumbs, small pieces
maramataka - calendar
maranga - to arise; to get up
marangai - heavy rain, storm
mārau - fork
maremare - to cough
mārena - to marry; wedding
mārika - indeed, quite, certainly; āe mārika
maringi - to spill (trans)
marino - calm
māripi - knife
mārō - hard (of texture, personality), firm
maroke - dry
matā - flint; blade; lead; bullet; earwig
mātaki - to watch
mātakitaki - to watch, to observe, examine, inspect
mataku - scared, afraid
mātāmua - eldest; first; main
mātao - cold
matapihi - window
matapiko - mean, stingy
mātau - to know, understand
mātauranga - education, knowledge, understanding
matawā - clock; live broadcast
mate - to be sick, ill, dead
matekai - hungry, starving
matewai - thirst; thirsty
māti - match (to light a fire)
matikara - finger; toe
matikuku - claw; fingernail; toenail; hoof
matimati - finger, toe
mātou - we, us (three or more people, excluding the person/ people addressed)
matū - fat, chemical
mātua - parents, fathers (plural form of matua)
matua kēkē - uncle
matua whāngai - foster-parent
māu - for you, by you; ā category possession
mau - to wear clothes
māua - we, us (two people, excluding addressee)
mauī - left (direction)
māuiui - sick
maumahara - to remember, remember
maunga - mountain
mauri - life spirit
mauria - to be carried (mau + passive suffix -ria)
māwhero - pink
me - and, should, with (various meanings, uses, eg with, like, should)
mea - a thing (n); to say (v)
mehemea - if (presuming not; cf. ki te, if, expressing simple uncertainty)
Mei - May
meke - fist; to punch
mekepaoro - volleyball
mema - member, members
Mema Pāremata - MP, Member of Parliament
memeha - weak
mēnā - if
mene - assemble
menemene - to smile
meneti - minute
mēra - mail
mere - bush, shrub
merekara - miracle
merengi - melon
mētara - metal
mīere - honey
mīharo - to wonder at; amazing
mihi - to greet; thank; acknowledge
mihimihi - greetings and introductions
mihinare - missionary; Anglican
mīhini - machine
mīhini hoko - vending machine
mīhini keri - digger
mimi - urine; urinate
mimiti - dried up; swallowed up
minamina - desire, wish for mine be gathered together
mingomingo kata - to smile
minita - minister
miraka - milk
miraka tepe - yoghurt
miri - rub; stroke; soothe; wipe
mirihau - windsurfing
mirimiri - massage
mirimita - millimetre
miriona - million
mirionea - millionaire
miririta - millilitre
mirumiru - bubbles
mītara - measles
mīti - meat
mīti hipi - mutton
mīti kau - beef
mitimiti - to lick
mō - for, unrealised, ō category possession, about
moana - sea
moata - early; early morning
moe - sleep; to marry
moemoeā - to dream (v), dream (n)
moenga - bed
moepapa - nightmare
moeroa - sleepyhead; to sleep in
mōhio - to know
mōhiotanga - knowledge
(mōhio + nominal suffix -tanga)
mōhiotia - known (mōhio + passive suffix -tia)
mōhiti - glasses
moho - stupid
mohoa - to the present time
mōhū - selfish
mōkai - pet
mokamokai - dried human head
moke - solitary; solitary person
mokemoke - lonely
mōkī - tie in a bundle; raft made of flax stalks; package
moko - lizard
moko ngārara - crocodile
mokomoko - lizard
mokopuna - grandchild
mokotuauri - dinosaur
mokoweri - dinosaur
mōku - for me, unrealised, o category possession
momi - suck
momo - type, kind
momoe - keeping the eyes shut
mōmona - fat
momori - bare; smooth
mōna - for him, her, unrealised, o category possession
monamona - knuckle; joint
mongamonga - crushed
moni - money
moni whiwhi - income
more - bare; plain, not decorated; toothless
mōrearea - dangerous
mōrehu - survivor
moremore - bald
mōrena - good morning
morihana - goldfish
mōrunga - lifted up
mōteatea - lament; traditional song
mōtēra - motel
moto - strike with fist
motokā - car, motorcar
motokia - (pass) be struck with fist
motū - steak
motuhake - special
motuhia - (pass) be cut
motuhuka - iceberg
motukā - car
motupaika - motorbike
moumou - waste (n): to be wasteful (v)
moutere - island
mōwhiti - glasses
mua - front, before
muku - wipe, rub; rubber (stationery)
mura - blaze, flame
muri - behind, after
mutu - be ended, finished (but not necessarily completed)
mutunga - end (mutu + noun ending -nga)
mutunga wiki - weekend
nā - Various meanings, eg by, belonging to (ā category), by way of
nāianei - now
naihi - knife
nāku - mine, realised possession,
it was done by me (ā category)
nama - number
nāna - by him, her, belonging to him, her
nanakia - rascal
clever, cunning
nau mai! - welcome!
nāwai - presently, in due course, after a while
nē - tag question, translated variously depending on the English structure; eh?
nei - here, by speaker
neke - to move
nekeneke - to move gradually
ngā - the, plural
ngahau - party, concert
ngahere - forest, bush
Ngahuru - Autumn
ngākau - heart, as in seat of the affections and feelings
ngaki - avenge; to plant; to weed
ngakina - till soil, weed
ngārara - reptile, monster
ngaro - to be lost, missing, gone, hidden (trans)
ngaru - wave
ngaruiti - microwave
ngata - snail (n); to be satisfied (v)
ngātahi - together
Ngāti - tribal name prefix (as in: Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu)
ngau - to bite
ngāueue - to shake
ngāwari - kind, pleasant of personality; easy
ngenge - tired
ngeru - cat
ngoikore - weak; listless
ngunguru - to growl, grumble, shake
ngutu - lip, lips
niho - tooth
nō - from
nō reira - so, therefore
noa - free from tapu; only, just, merely
Noema - November
noho - to live; sit
noho taratahi - self-isolation
nohoanga - home, sofa
nohoia - (pass) be sat upon, be inhabited
noke - worm
nōku - mine, realised possession, ō category
Nōwei - Norway
nui - big, great, many
nuinga - majority (nui + nominal suffix -nga)
nuku - to move
nunui - big (plural form)
ō - your, one person, neutral category possession, plural
oho - to wake up
ohorere - to start suddenly, be startled; surprised
oka - chef's knife, dagger; prick; stab; yam
Oketopa - October
ōku - mine, plural, ō category possession
oma - to run, escape
ōna - his, her, plural, ō category possession
one - beach, sand
oneone - earth, soil
onepū - sand, beach
ono - six
ope - group travelling together
ora - alive, well, healthy, safe
oranga - health, life
(ora + nominal suffix -nga)
ōrite - to be the same as
otaota - vegetation, herbs, grass, weeds
oti - to be completed
otirā - but, on the other hand
ōu - yours, one person, ō category possession, plural
pā - a fortified settlement (n); to touch (v)
pae - ridge
paenga - shelf
Paengawhāwhā - April
paepae - speakers
paetae - achieved
pāhau - beard
pāhi - purse, to pass
pahū - drum (n); blow up, explode (v)
pai - good (adj); to like (v); good
pai ake - better
paihikara - bike
painga - benefit, skill, good qualities
(pai + nominal suffix -nga)
paipa - pipe
pakanga - to fight, battle, war, hostility
pakapaka - burnt, dry
pakaru - broken (applied to a thing not a body part) (trans)
pākaurua - stingray
pake - obstinate
Pākehā - New Zealander of European descent
pākehokeho - slippery
pakeke - hard, stiff (adj); to grow up (v); age, adult, elder (n)
paketai - driftwood; anything cast up by the sea
pākete - bucket
pākī - hamburger
pakiaka - root
pakihi - business
pakihiwi - shoulder
pakipaki - to applaud, to clap; applause
pakitara - wall
pakituri - hitchhiker
pakiwaitara - story
pakiwaituhi - cartoon
pakō - blistered; make a loud sound
paku - dried; small
paku - small
pāmamao - distant
pāmu - farm
panā - (pass) be driven away, be expelled
panana - banana
panatahi - odd number
pane - head
pane kuini - postage stamp
paneke - goal (in sport); to score; to advance
panekeke - pancake
panekoti - skirt, dress
pangā - (pass) be thrown; be passed
pānga tuhituhi - stationery
pāngarau - maths
pango - black
pani - orphan (n); to be orphaned (v): to smear, spread out (v)
pani ngutu - lipstick
paniaku - toothpaste
panikakā - mustard
Pāniora - Spain
pānui - to read; to publish, advertise; notice, advertisement
pānuitanga - announcement
pānuitia - read; advertised (pass of pānui)
panuku - sledge
pao - break; sing; a type of song; strike, pound
paoa - smoke (from a fire)
paoka - fork; pierce; stab
paoro - ball
papā - burst, explode
papa angaanga - skull
papa kāinga - ancestral settlement
papa kararehe - zoo
papa pānui - noticeboard
papa tuhituhi - blackboard, whiteboard
pāpāho - broadcast
pāpāho maha - multimedia
papahokohoko - mall
papai - good (plural), very good
pāpaka - crab
papaki - smack
pāpaku - shallow
papakupu - dictionary
papanga - layer
pāpango - dark in colour
pāpapa - husk, shell
pāparakāuta - pub
papareti - skateboard
pāpāringa - cheek
papāroa - scarce
papatahi - flat
papatākaro - playing field, playground
pāpātanga - rate, speed
papataunga - runway
papatuhituhi - whiteboard
papi - puppy
pāpura - purple
para - blood relation; pollen; sediment; waste material
pārae - a park; paddock
parai - fry; frying pan
paraihe niho - toothbrush
paraikete - blanket
Paraire - Friday
parakuihi - breakfast
paramanawa - refreshments, snacks, nibbles
parāoa - bread, flour
parāoa rimurapa - pasta
paraone - brown
parauri - brown
pare - to ward off, to divert
parehe - pizza; flattened
pārekareka - fun; enjoyable, beautiful
pari - cliff
parirau - wing
paru - dirt, mud, dirty
paruparu - dirt, mud
pata - butter
pātai - question; to ask a question
pātaia - (pass) be asked; be questioned
pātaka - elevated storehouse; pantry
pātara - bottle
pātene - button
pātiki - flounder (fish)
pātītī - grass
pātōtō - knock
patu - to strike, hit; to kill
patua - hit/killed (patu + passive suffix -a)
pātuhi - text message, to text
pau - to be consumed, used up completely, all gone (trans)
pāua - abalone
paura - powder
pea - pair; pear
pēhea - how?
pēhea? - how? in what way?
peita - paint
peka - branch
pēkana - bacon
pekapeka - bat
pēke - bag
pēke parapara - rubbish bag
pēnā - like that, near listener
pene - pen
pene rākau - pencil
pēnei - like this, near speaker
pēniho - toothpaste
pepa - paper; pepper
pēpe - baby
pepeha - proclamation of origin
pēpi - baby
Pepuere - February
pērā - like that, yonder
pere - bell
pereti - plate
pēwhea - how? (variant of pēhea)
pī - bee; pea
pia - beer
pia ngaungau - chewing gum
piana - piano
pihikete - biscuit
pīkau - backpack; carry on back; take responsibility for
piki - to increase
pikiniki - picnic
pikitia - picture, film
pīnati pata - peanut butter
pīngao - seaside plant used in weaving; kodak yellow
pīpī - chick, baby
Pipiri - June
pīrangi - to want, desire
pīrangitia - (pass) be wanted, be desired
pirau - rotten
piri - to stick to, to cling
pirihimana - police officer
pirimia - prime minister
piro - stinking, putrid
pītiti - peach
pito - belly button, end, extremity
piupiu - flax skirt (worn as part of traditional costume, eg in kapa haka)
pīwaiwaka - fantail
pō - night
pō mārie - good night
poaka - pig
pōhatu - stone
pōhēhē - to think mistakenly, be mistaken
pōhiri - welcome; to wave
poho - chest
poi - poi, small, soft ball on string
poka - hole (n); to make a hole in, to pierce (v)
pokohiwi - shoulder
pona - cord; knot, tie in knot; ankle; knuckle
pono - true, faithful
poraka - jersey
pōrangi - crazy; idiot
pōro - ball (also 'paoro')
porowhita - circle, round (variant of porohita)
pōtae - hat
pōti - vote
pōtiki - child; youngest child
poto - short
pōturi - deaf; slow
pou - pole, post
pouaka - box
pouaka whakaata - television
pounamu - greenstone
poupoutanga o te rā - midday, noon
pōuri - sad, dark
Poutu-te-rangi - March
pōwhiri - welcome
pū - to blow gently
puare - open, opening
puehu - dust
pūhā - green spinach-like vegetable
puhi - to blow (wind)
pūhia - (pass) be blown; be shot
pūhoi - slow; blunt
pūhungahunga - rough; unfinished
pūhuruhuru - hairy
puia - hot spring; volcano
pūkaea - large wooden wind instrument
pūkaha - engine
pūkai - to lie in a heap
pūkana - stare with bulging eyes (fierce facial expressions used in actions songs and haka)
pukapuka - book, lungs
pukapuka pakiwaituhi - comic book
pukarangi - chromebook
puke - hill
pūkei - to lie in a heap
pūkēkē - arm; armpit
pūkenga - skills, skill, expertise, lecturer
pukepuke - hilly; small hill
pūkohu - mist
puku - stomach, belly
pukumahi - hard-working, industrious
pukupā - barren; childless
pukuriri - fury; furious; grumpy
pukutākaro - full of fun; playful
pūmanawa rorohiko - software
pūmau - fixed, permanent
puna - pool, spring
puna kaukau - swimming pool
pune - spoon
punenga kupu - word processor
punga - anchor; joint
pūngao kōmaru - solar power
pungarehu - ashes
pūngāwerewere - spider
pūngene - sleeping bag
puni - camp; company; crowd; dam
punua - young animal
punua kurī - puppy
punua poti - kitten
puoro - to sing, to rumble
pūoru - music
pupuhi - to shoot
pupuri - to hold onto
pupuritia - be held, be retained, kept possession of, gripped (pass of pupuri)
pura - blind; twinkle
pūrākau - traditional story
pūrama - light bulb
purapura - seed
pūrehu - moth
purei - to play, play
purepure - spotted; in patches
pūrere - appliance, machine (electric) (n); to escape (v)
pūrere horoi - washing machine
pūrere horoi maitai - dishwasher
pūrere whakaahua - photocopier
pūreretā - printer
purini - pudding
puritanga - a handle
pūrongo - a report
purotu - handsome
pūru - bull
puruhi - flea
purūma - broom; sweep
pūruru - shady (of trees)
purutaringa - earphone
puta - to appear, to come out
pūtaiao - science
pūtake - root
putanga - opening, exit
(puta + nominal suffix -nga)
pūtātara - shell trumpet; fund, funding
pūtea - budget, resources, money
pūtiki - knot; to knot; topknot
putiputi - flower
pūtohe - saxophone
pūtōrino - flute-like instrument
putu - to heap up; a heap, pile
pūwhā - green spinach-like vegetable
rā - day; the sun; over there
rā whānau - birthday
Rāapa - Wednesday
rae - forehead; headland
raha - open; extended
rahi - large, numerous, great, big
Rāhina - Monday
Rāhoroi - Saturday
rāhui - ban, place a ban; reserve
rahurahu - to handle; to interfere with
raihana - licence
raihana taraiwa - driver's licence
raihi - rice
rāina - line
raiona - lion
raka - yonder, over there; agile; lock
rākau - tree; timber
raki - north
rakiraki - duck; rake; scrape
raku - scrape; scratch
rakuraku - guitar; rake
rama - light, torch
rama waka - traffic lights
Rāmere - Friday
rānei - or
rangatahi - youth, younger generation
rangatira - chief, leader, boss
rangi - sky, day
ranginamu - handsome
rango - fly, blowfly (n); to hear (v)
rangona - to be heard (passive form of rongo)
rapa - to look for (v); rubber (n)
Rāpare - Thursday
rāpeti - rabbit
rapu - to look for
rārangi - line, row
rare - lolly
raro - under, below; time
raru - trouble; to be in difficulty, in trouble
raruraru - trouble, problem; be in difficulty, in trouble
rata - friendly, at ease (adj); calm (n); to like (v)
Rātapu - Sunday
rātau - them; they (three or more people)
rātou - they, them, three or more people
rātou ko - and also (joining 3 or more names eg. Bob, Jim and Fred)
Rātū - Tuesday
rau - to put into; leaf
rāua - them; they (two people)
rāua ko - and joining 2 names eg. Jim and Fred
raupatu - conquest; confiscate; take by force
rautaki - strategy
rawa - Various meanings, eg too, quite, very; really
rawe - lovely, excellent
rāwhiti - east
rēhia - pleasure, amusement
reira - there (previously mentioned)
reka - sweet
rekareka - pleasant, delighted
reo - language, voice
rere - to escape; to fly
rere ā-hapori - community transmission
rerekē - different, changed
rerenga - sentence; flight, journey, voyage
reri - ready
reta - letter
reti - to skate, slide
retireti - skates, skating
rīhi - dish; dishes; lease
rima - five
ringa - hand, arm
ringaringa - hand, arm
rīngi - to ring/phone
rino - iron
rīpene - ribbon, tape
riri - anger, angry
riro - gone away; to be awarded: acquired, obtained
rita - litre
rite - to be ready, like, similar
rīwai - potato
roa - long
roanga - length of time
(roa + nominal suffix -nga)
rohe - district, area, boundary, territory
roimata - tears
rokiroki - used up; preserve
rongo - to hear, perceive, feel
rongoā - medicine
rongona - heard (pass. of rongo)
rongonui - famous
rōpere - strawberry
rōpū - group
rori - road
roro - brain
rorohiko - computer
roto - in, inside, within; lake
roumamao - remote control (for TV)
ruaki - vomit
ruku - to dive
rukuhia - (pass) be sunk
rūma - room
rūma kaukau - bathroom
rūma moe - bedroom
rūma noho - living room
rumaki - immerse, immersion; dip; drown; bury
runga - on
rūri - ruler; survey (land)
rutu - bump, throw down, tackle
tā - print, draw
tae - to reach, arrive (v); colour (n)
taea - to be able, to be achieved (tae + passive suffix -a)
tāepa - fence
taha - to pass by; side
tāhae - to steal
tahataha - steep bank
tahatika - coastline
tāhau - your, ā category possession, singular (variant of tāu)
tahi - one, single
tahitahi - to sweep
tahu - burn; cook; light (set on fire); husband, wife; lover
tāhuhu - subject of a sentence
tahuri - to capsize
tai - tide; coast
taiapa - fence
taihoa - wait
Taihoa! - Hang on!
taika - tiger
tāima - time
taipa - be silent
taitai niho - toothbrush
taitama - young man
Tāite - Thursday
taitoa - brave
taitonga - south
taiwhanga ako - classroom
taiwhanga pūtaiao - laboratory
taka - to come around in a cycle; to fall from a height
takahi - trample; tread; stamp; disobey, violate
tākai - bind; wrap up; bandage
takaina - (pass) be heaped up
takakau - at leisure; unmarried
takakino - act hurriedly; to abuse; to debase; to spoil
takapau - floor-mat
takapū - belly; calf of leg
takarangi - faint; giddy; stagger
tākaro - to play
tākaro ataata - video game
tākaro rorohiko - computer game
tākarotia - played (pass. of tākaro)
takatū - prepare, get ready
tāke moni whiwhi - take beginning, cause, origin, reason; subject of discussion
takere - bottom (of sea, river); hull; keel
taketake - base; ancient; original; lasting
taki - to lead, to bring along
tākiri - draw away quickly; untie; pull out; strike (a match)
tākirirangi - space rocket
takirua - in pairs, two at a time
takitahi - individually, one at a time
takitaki - appear; provoke; revenge; look for; recite
takitaro - moment
takitini - in droves
takiwā - district, region
takoki - to sprain
takoto - to lie down
takotoranga - position, site
takotoria - (pass) be laid down
taku - my (singular); edge
takune - pretend
takunga - an excuse
tākupu - gannet
takurua - winter
tākuta - doctor
takutai - sea coast
takutaku - recite; threaten
tama - son, nephew (term of address for a boy, son: tama)
tamāhine - daughter
tamaiti - child
tamaiti whāngai - adopted child
Tāmaki-makau-rau - Auckland
tamariki - children (plural form of tamaiti)
tāmaru - overcast
tame heihei - rooster
tāmiro - twist
tāmirotia - (pass) be twisted
tamumu - hum; buzz
tamumutia - (pass) be hummed
tāmure - snapper
tāmutumutu - intermittent
tana - his/her (neutral category); ton
tāne - man, male
tāngata - people (plural of tangata)
tangata whenua - people of the land, home crowd
tangatanga - comfortable
tangi - to cry; to make a sound
tangihanga - funeral
tangihia - be mourned (pass of tangi)
tangiweto - cry; cry-baby
tango - to take hold of
tango mai - receive
tangohanga - betrothal, engagement; marriage
tangohia - pick up! (command); taken away (tango + passive suffix -hia)
tangotango - to handle; use
tāniko - ornamental border of cloak or mat
taniwha - monster, traditional guardian of bodies of water
tanoni - be sprained
tanu - bury; plant
tanumi - disappear behind
tao - to cook
taokete - brother-in-law (of a male), sister-in-law (of a female)
tāone - town
tāone nui - city
taonga - property, possession
tapa - to name
tapa tāone - suburb
tāpae - to present; put before one
tāpaepae - jigsaw puzzle
tapahi - to cut up, chop
tapahia - cut! to be cut (tapahi + passive suffix -a)
tapahinga makawe - haircut
tapaia - (pass) be named; be recited
tapu - sacred, holy, under ritual restriction
taputapu - gear, equipment
taputapu tākaro - sports equipment
tapuwae - footprint
tara - point; spike; peak; wall; sea bird
taraiwa - to drive; driver
taraiwatia - driven (pass. of taraiwa)
taraka - truck
tarakihana - tractor
tarau - trousers
tarau poto - shorts
tārere - to swing
tari - government department; office
tāria - (pass) be waited for; be expected; after a time
taringa - ear
taro - presently, by and by (as in: taro ake)
tāroaroa - tall
taru - grass; vegetation; thing
tarutaru - grass, weeds, cannabis
tata - near, close
tātahi - seaside, beach
tātai - to arrange, to set in order
tatari - to wait
tatau - to count
tātou - we, us, inclusive, three or more people
tāu - your (singular + one item)
tau - to land, settle; be calm; to attack; lover; handsome; year; age; number
taua - that, previously mentioned (singular)
tauera - towel
tauhou - strange, unfamiliar; stranger
tauira - student; example
taumaha - difficult of spirit or health; to be heavy (s), weight (n)
taumata - grade, level of achievement
taunga - to be accustomed to, familiar with
taunga ika - fishing ground
taura - rope, cable
tautoko - to support
tāwāhi - overseas
tāwara - flavour
tawhiti - distant, a distant place
tawhito - old, former
te - the, singular definite article
tea - white; clear
tēhea? - which? (singular)
teihana - TV channel; railway station
teihana tereina - train station
teina - younger sibling, same sex
teitei - tall, high, lofty; height (object)
teka - lying (v); lie (n)
tekau - ten
tēnā - that, by the listener
tēnā koe - hello to one person
tēnā koe! - hello! (to one person); thank you
tēnā kōrua! - hello! (to two people); thank you
tēnā koutou! - hello! (to three or more people); thank you
tēnei - this (by speaker); this is; this
tenetene - vagina
tēpu - table
tērā - that over there, that
tere - to flow, float, move quickly; fast
terēina - train
tētahi - a, one specific thing
tētehi - a, one specific thing (variant of tētahi)
teti pea - teddy bear
tī - cabbage tree; tea
tiakarete - chocolate
tiakarete wera - hot chocolate
tiaki - to look after, to care for
Tiamani - Germany
tīhāte - t-shirt
Tīhema - December
tihi - topknot
tika - to be right, correct, straight, in order
tikanga - reason, meaning, right way of doing things, custom (tika + nominal suffix -nga)
tiki - to fetch
tīkina - be fetched (tiki + passive suffix -na (note the first i is lengthened)
tīkiti - ticket
tīma - team
tīmata - to begin, to start
tīmatanga - beginning
(tīmata + nominal suffix -nga)
timu - ebb tide; shoulder; end
tina - dinner, lunch
tinana - body, trunk, torso
tinei - turn off, extinguish
tīni - to change
tinihanga - to trick, amuse with trickery
tino - very
tino pai! - very good!
tino rangatiratanga - sovereignty
tioka - chalk
tipua - a person of high status
tīpuna - grandparents (plural form of tipuna)
tipuna - grandparent, ancestor
tiriti - street
tiro - to look
tirohanga - view, sight, aspect (tiro + nominal suffix -hanga)
tītī - muttonbird
titiro - to look at
tō - your (singular); to drag
tō māua - our (singular, his or hers and mine)
tō rātou - their (singular - three or more people)
tō rāua - their (singular, two people)
tō tātou - our, all of our, belonging to everyone
tō tāua - our, yours and mine
tō-ā-papa - gravity (force of)
toa - shop; male animal; expert; to be strong
toa rongoā - chemist
toanga - bravery
toe - to remain, be left over
toenga - leftovers, remnants (toe + nominal suffix -nga)
toetoe - grass, rushes
toha - distribute; allocate
tohatohaina - (pass) be distributed, be allocated
tōhau - dew; sweat
tohe - to be persistent, stubborn (s), to object, argue, protest (v)
tohea - (pass) be argued about
tohi - divide, separate; ceremony for newborn baby
tōhihi - puddle
tohitū - direct; straight
tohorā - whale
tohu - a qualification, eg degree
tōhua - yolk
tohunga - expert, priest
tohunga tā moko - skilled tattoo artist
tohunga whakairo - master carver
tohungia - (pass) be marked; be preserved; be pointed out
tohutaka - recipe
tohutoa - medal
tohutohu - to instruct; to guide, direct; instructions, directions
toi - art, knowledge
tōia - (pass) be dragged
toitoi - jogging; trot
toitū - entire; permanent; undisturbed
toka - rock
toke - worm
toke hore - tall person
tōkena - stockings, socks
tokerau - autumn; northern
toki - adze, axe; champion
tokohia? - how many [people]?
tokomaha - many (of people)
tokomauri - hiccup
tokotoko - walking stick (without a handle)
tokotoru - three (people)
tokowhia? - how many people?
tōku - my (singular)
tōmairangi - dew
tōmato - tomato
tomo - to enter, go into
tomokanga - entrance
tomokia - (pass) be entered
tōmua - early
tōmuri - to be late
tōna - his, her
tōnapi - turnip
tōneke - trolley
tonga - south
tōnga o te rā - sunset
tōnihi - move stealthily
tono - to apply for, to order (v):
an application (n)
tonoa - sent (tono + passive suffix -a)
tonu - still
toparere - helicopter
tope - cut down; cut off
topea - (pass) be cut down; be cut off
tōpito - end; district
tōpū - couple, pair; assembled
tōrangapū - politics; political
tōraro - negative number
toremi - disappear; drowned
tori - cut (v); cat (n)
toro - to visit
toroa - albatross
torohē - examine
tōroherohe - wag (as in a dog wagging its tail)
torohīhihi - short hair; few hairs
torohū - secret; secretly; stealthily
toroiho - underwear
torōna - throne
toronga - distant relatives
torotika - in a straight line
torotoro - hold out hands
toru - three
torutoru - few
tōtā - sweat
tote - salt
toti - limp (walk with difficulty)
tōtika - straight, direct, right
tōtiti - sausage
tōtiti wera - hot dog
totō - ooze; trickle
tōu - your, ō category possession, singular
tū - stand; to be wounded; a wound
tū tirara - social distancing
tua - beyond
tuāhine - female cousins or sisters of a male
tuākana - older brothers of a male; older sisters of a female
tuanui - roof
tuarā - back [body]
tuarua - second
tuatahi - first
tuatete - hedgehog
tuatoru - third
tuawaru - eighth
tuawhā - fourth
tuhi - to write; to indicate, point out
tuhia - written; write! (tuhi + passive suffix -a)
tuhinga - writing, text
(tuhi + nominal suffix -nga)
tuhinga kūkara - google docs
tuhituhi - to write, draw
tuhituhia - (pass) be drawn; be written
tuitui - fasten up; sew, to stitch
tuke - elbow; jerk; knock; angle
tukemata - eyebrow
tuki - to hit, to knock, to beat, to pound; crash
tukia - be hit; be pounded; be attacked, be crashed into; be bumped (pass of tuki)
tuku - to put off, to leave aside
tukua - let go! to be released (tuku + passive suffix -a)
tukuata - projector
tukuoro - speaker (eg bluetooth speaker)
tukutuku - spider web
tūmahi - actions, verbs
tūmanako - to hope for, anticipate, expect, wish for
tumeke - to take fright, surprise
tuna - eel
tūnga pahi - bus stop
tūnga waka - carpark
tungāne - brother, of a female
tunu - to cook, roast
tunua - (pass) be roasted; be baked
tūpato - to be careful; caution, cautious
tupu - to grow, develop; a plant, shoot
(variant of tipu)
tūpuhi - skinny
tupuna - ancestor; grandparent
tūpuna - grandparents (plural form of tupuna; variant of tīpuna)
tūranga - stopping place (as in: tūranga pahi bus stop; tū + nominal suffix -ranga)
tūrangawaewae - place to stand
ture - law, rule
tūrehu - fairy
Tūrei - Tuesday
tūrēiti - late
turi - deaf; knee; disobedient
tūria - be established (pass. of tū)
turituri - be quiet! noisy
tūru - chair, seat, stool
tūtae - excrement
tūtaki - to meet; to close up, to block (v); meeting (n)
tūtakina - (pass) be met; be shut
tūtuki - to crash; to strike against; collide; bump
tūturu - fixed, permanent, definite; to be true, real, original
ū - breast, udder (n); to be devoted (v)
ua - to rain; rain
uaki - to push open
uaua - difficult (adj); muscle, vein, artery (n)
uhi - to cover
ui - to ask, enquire
uira - lightning; to flash
uku - to wash; soap; clay
uma - chest
umere - to shout (in wonder, in appreciation)
umu - earth oven
upoko - head; verse of a song; paragraph; chapter
upoko mārō - stubborn
ure - penis
uri - descendant, offspring
Uropi - Europe
uta - to load; shore; inland; the land; to load
utaina - (pass) be loaded
utu - cost, price; to pay for
utua - be revenged; be paid (pass of utu)
uwha - female animal
uwhiuwhi - shower (rain)
wā - time, times
wae - foot; leg; separate
waea - wire; phone
waea pūkoro - cellphone
waenga - middle, dividing line
waenganui - middle, centre, between
waero - hair of dog's tail; tail
waewae - foot, leg
waha - load, burden; to carry on the back; mouth
wāhanga - chapter, episode
wāhi - part, portion; place
wahia - firewood
wāhine - women, wives (plural form of wahine)
waho - out, outside, the outside
wai - water; who
waiata - to sing (v); song (n)
waiatatia - sung (pass. of waiata)
waiho - to remain, rest; to leave behind
waimaria - lucky
waimarie - lucky, fortunate; luck, good fortune
wāina - wine
waireka - sweet drink, soft drink
waitohu - credit
waka - vehicle (land, air and sea)
waka moana - canoe, boat
wareware - to forget; forgetful (trans)
waru - eight; to scrape, to peel
wātea - to be clear, unoccupied, available, free of obstruction
wawe - early, soon, quickly
wehe - to depart, leave; to separate, divide
wehi - terrible (adj); to be afraid (v)
wera - to burn; burnt; hot, heat
whā - four
whaea - mother, aunt
whai - to follow, to chase; to have, to acquire
whāia - chased (pass of whai - note lengthening of first vowel)
whaikōrero - oratory
whakaae - to agree
whakaahua - to take photos; photograph
whakaari - play, drama, performance
whakaaro - to think; thought, idea
whakahaere - to run something, manage, make something go
whakahau - to encourage; to command
whakaheke - to decrease, drop, lower
whakahīhī - arrogant, proud
whakahoki - to return something, to reply
whakahokia - returned (whakahoki + passive suffix -a), returned
whakairo - to carve, a carving
whakakaha - to strengthen; charge a cellphone
whakamā - to be embarrassed, ashamed
whakamahana - heater
whakamahi - to put someone to work, to make someone work
whakamahia - used (pass of whakamahi)
whakamārama - to explain, illuminate, explain, clarify
whakamātautau - examination, test
whakamau - to fix, fasten; to put on
whakamaua - be fixed; put on (pass of whakamauto)
whakamua - frontward, towards the front
whakamuri - towards the back
whakangā - to rest
whakangahau - to entertain, to amuse
whakanui - to enlarge; celebrate
whakaoho - to wake up
whakaora - to rescue, to cure
whakaoti - complete
whakapae - lying crosswise, horizontal
whakapai - to improve, to fix up, bless, cleaning
whakapaipai - to decorate, adorn, tidy up, beautify
whakapakari - to strengthen
whakapākehā - translate into English
whakapapa - genealogy
whakapehapeha - to show off
whakapiri - to cling to, stick to
whakapono - to believe; faith
whakaputa - to make something come out, to appear
whakararo - downwards
whakarere - abandon, leave behind
whakarite - to compare; arrange, organise
whakaritea - arranged (pass of whakarite)
whakarongo - to listen
whakarongona - listened to (pass. of whakarongo)
whakatā - to rest (v); relaxed (adj)
whakatakoto - to lay something down
whakatata - to come closer to
whakatau - to decide
whakatau utu - estimate of cost, quote
whakatauākī - proverb
whakataukī - proverb
whakataunga - an iwi referendum, decision
whakatautau - moan, wail
whakateka - disbelieve
whakatenetene - annoy; quarrel
whakatere - buoy up; steer; sail,, navigate, float, accelerate
whakatete - gnash the teeth
whakatika - to straighten, to correct, to fix
whakatikatikanga rori - roadworks
whakatipu - to raise, grow, develop
whakatipuranga - generation
whakatō - to plant
whakatohetohe - unwilling
whakatoro - push forward, thrust
Whakatū - Nelson; erect
whakatū - to stand something up
whakatūpato - to warn, to caution
whakatupu - grow; bring up, nurture
whakatupuranga - generation
whakatūria - erected (whakatū + passive suffix -ria)
whakatutuki - carry to completion
whakatuturi - to be obstinate; refuse to listen
whakatuwhera - to open
whakatuwheratanga - opening
whakaū - establish; support; confirm
whakauaua - strenuous; make (more) difficult
whakaupa - delay
whakauru - to enter, to join, to enrol
whakaute - care for; nurse
whakautu - to reply, to respond, answer
whakautua - (pass) be replied to; be responded to
whakawā - accuse; condemn; to judge; appraise
whakawaha - put load on back
whakawai - amuse; practise
whakawareware - deceive
whakawātea - make way for, clear space
whakawāwā - quarrel, wrangle
whakawehi - protection
whakaweti - threaten
whakawhānau - to give birth
whakawhetai - to give thanks
whakawhiti - to cross
whakawhiti kōrero - discuss; communicate
whakawhiti whakaaro - discuss; communicate
whakawhitiwhitinga kōrero - exchange of ideas
whakawhiu - afflict; oppress; punish
whakawhiwhi - give; to award
whakawiri - be anxious; tremble; twist; wring
whakawiriwiri - cruel; violent
whāki - to reveal, to disclose, to confess
whana - to kick
whanake - cabbage tree; to spring; grow
whanaketanga - youth (the time of being young)
whānako - steal; theft; thief
whānāriki - sulphur
whānau - family; to be born, be born
whānau pani - close family of someone who has died
whanaunga - relative, relation (whānau + nominal suffix -nga - note the short first vowel)
whanaungatanga - relationship
whanga - to wait (v); harbour (n)
whāngai - to feed, to foster (v); fostered child (n)
whāngaia - (pass) be fed; be nourished
whano - behave
whanonga - behaviour
whānui - broad, wide
whaowhao - to carve
whara - to be injured
whārangi - page (n); spread flat (v)
wharau - temporary shed
whare - house, building
whare haumanu - clinic
whare herehere - prison
whare horoi - ablution block
whare kai - dining hall
whare kairangi - palace
whare karakia - church
whare kawhe - cafe
whare kurī - kennel
whare motokā - garage
whare pī - beehive
whare pikitia - movie theatre
whare pītakataka - gymnasium
whare whakairo - carved house
wharekai - restaurant
wharekura - Māori-medium secondary school
wharenui - meeting house; hall
wharepaku - toilet
whāriki - mat, carpet, rug
whati - broken, snapped; break, snap; run away; turn
whatitiri - thunder
whatu - to weave, knit; eye
whātui - to fold clothes
whāwhā - to fiddle with, to touch
whāwhai - hurry; impatient; urgent
whenua - land
whero - red
whetū - star
wheua - bone (usually of an animal)
whira - violin, fiddle
Whiringa-ā-nuku - October
Whiringa-ā-rangi - November
whiriwhiri - choose; decide; deliberate on
whiti - to cross; shine, rise
whitia - (pass) be crossed over; be jumped over; be recited; be shone on
whitu - seven
whiu - to be satisfied; to throw; to be filled
whiwhi - to be in possession of; acquire, obtain, to get
whutupaoro - rugby
wiki - week