Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whakapono

1. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to believe, trust.

E kore pea te tangata e whakapono ki te kīia atu e 640 māero te tere o taua whetū i te hēkene kotahi (TP 1/6/1901:11). / A person would probably never believe it if it was said that the speed of that comet was 640 miles per second.

Show example

Hide example


2. (modifier) religious, pious.

He wahine whakapono ia. / She was a religious woman.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: whakawairua


3. (noun) faith, creed, belief.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 221-235;)

Kāore i hapa tā Te Whitu, tuku ana te wahine i a rātou kia romiromitia, kia mātakitakitia e te hātana, ā, kia takakinotia i te nui o tō rātou whakapono ki ngā mahi tohunga (TP 10/1904:2). / Nothing that Te Whitu had said was missed, the women allowed themselves to be massaged and gazed at by the heathen and to be abused because of their belief in the witchcraft.

Show example

Hide example

whakapono tūpato-kore

1. (noun) credulity, gullibility.

Nā tana mahi ki te whāngai i ō rātou whakataputaputanga, i ō rātou whakapono tūpato-kore rānei, i taiope atu ai ngā Māori ki a ia (TTR 1996:224). / Through her practice of feeding their superstitions or credulity, Māori flocked to her.

Show example

Hide example

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