Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

pāua

1. (noun) pāua, abalone, sea ear, Haliotis spp. - edible univalve molluscs of rocky shores that have flattened, ear-shaped shells with a row of small holes for breathing. They have a strong grip on rocks but move about at night grazing on seaweed. Haliotis iris, the largest pāua, has peacock-like colours on the inside of the shell.

Ka tahuri rātau ki te koko rimu hei takotoranga mō ngā pāua me ngā ika maroke kia mākūkū ai, koi kino i te rehu waitai (JPS 1913:111). / They proceeded to pull up seaweed as receptacles for the pāua and the dried fish so that they would be moist, and so that they should not be spoiled by the sea spray.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tuke o rangi


2. (noun) spinner, fishing lure with a pāua shell inlay.

Ka tae ki tana pāua pounamu, ka hoe ki te moana, ka whiu i tana pāua ki te wai (Biggs 1997:43). / He took his greenstone and pāua spinner, paddled out to sea, and cast it onto the water (Biggs 1997:42).

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) hoof.

Hei te haruru o te takahi o ngā pāua o ōna hōiho kaha, hei te rorohū o ōna hāriata, hei te ngaehe o ōna wīra, kore iho ngā mātua e tahuri ki muri ki ā rātou tamariki (PT Heremaia 47:3). / At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children.

Show example

Hide example

Piri pāua

1. Cling like a pāua: usually said of a child but somethimes used for an adult.

Ko taku pōtiki tēnei ko ia hoki taku piri pāua / this is my youngest child she also sticks with me wherever I go.

Show example

Hide example

Te Kākano 3rd Edition

New edition of the leading Māori-language textbook out now.

More info

The App

Te Aka Māori Dictionary is also available as an iOS and Android app. Download below.

iOS Android

The Book

Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index by John C Moorfield comprises a selection of modern and everyday language that will be extremely useful for learners of the Māori language.

More info

He Pātaka Kupu

Te kai a te rangatira

He Pātaka Kupu is a monolingual Māori language dictionary, and was designed using its own culturally authentic terms.

Visit website

00:00