Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

ngahau

1. (verb) to be enjoyable, entertaining, interesting.

Ki tana kī, he roa e oho ana i ngā pō e kōrero paki ana, ā, ngahau ana ngā mahi (TTR 1996:8). / According to his account, they were awake late at night yarning and it was great fun.

Show example

Hide example


2. (verb) to be lush, hearty, brisk.

He tātāhou tēnā wāhi, nā reira i ngahau ai te tupu o te kai (W 1971:393). / That place is virgin soil, so the growth of the crop was lush.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: matomato, ngaore, tāmaota


3. (modifier) enjoyable, entertaining, interesting.

Ko ngā kōrero ngahau kua tāia nei nā te Māori katoa, nā Ngāti Porou (RK 1994:7). / The interesting stories published here are all by Māori, by Ngāti Porou.

Show example

Hide example


4. (noun) entertainment, dance,  amusement, enjoyment, concert.

I tō māua ngahau atu ki a rātau e kaukau ana, ka tīmata māua ki te tarapekepeke me te hāparangi o ō māua waha ki te karanga atu ki ētahi o rātau kia kaha, kia tere (HP 1991:21). / Because we were enjoying them swimming, we began to jump up and down and yell out to call to some of them to go hard, and fast.

Show example

Hide example

ngahau

1. (noun) force of example.

waiata ngahau

1. (noun) song of entertainment.

I taua wā kāore i ārikarika ngā waiata ngahau, waiata ā-ringa hoki a Tuīni Ngāwai e waiatatia ana e tō mātou kapa haka, ā, nā Hoani aua waiata i whakaako mai (Wh4 2004:79). / At that time there were many songs of entertainment and action songs by Tuīni Ngāwai being sung by our haka group and it was Hoani who taught us those songs.

Show example

Hide example

tūhononga ā-ngahau

1. (noun) social network.

New favourites & quiz!

The Te Aka Māori Dictionary mobile app now has the ability to sort your favourite words into folders. Plus, these folders can be turned into a quiz for a fun way to learn words and definitions. Download or update the app today!

iOS Android

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