Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

koutou

1. (pronoun) you (three or more people) - like all pronouns and personals, takes a when following ki, i, kei and hei but does not take a when used as the subject of the sentence. Never occurs after he, te and ngā.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 13, 31-32, 52-56, 64-65;)

Ka tukua koutou kia haere ki Whītī. / You will be ordered to go to Fiji.

Show example

Hide example

See also tā koutou


2. (pronoun) you and - used before ko followed by people's names.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 13;)

Anei te pōro mā koutou ko Poia, ko Hirini. / Here's the ball for you, Poia and Sydney.

Show example

Hide example

ā koutou

1. (determiner) your, yours (three or more people when referring to more than one thing) - a possessive determiner.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 52-56;)

Haere ki te whakatētē i ā koutou kau! / Go and milk your cows, please!

Show example

Hide example


2. (determiner) you (several people) have (more than one thing).

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 108-110;)

He mōkai ā koutou? / Do you have pets?

Show example

Hide example


3. Used in these ways listed above when the possessor has control of the relationship or is dominant, active or superior to what is possessed.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 54-56, 140-141;)

ō koutou

1. (determiner) your, yours - three or more people when referring to more than one thing) - a possessive determiner.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 52-56;)

Tīkina ō koutou kākahu! / Go and get your clothes, please!

Show example

Hide example


2. (determiner) you have (more than two people and more than one thing).

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 108-110;)

He tēina ō koutou? / Do you have younger siblings?

Show example

Hide example


3. Used in these ways listed above when the possessor has no control of the relationship or is subordinate, passive or inferior to what is possessed.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 54-56, 140-141;)

tā koutou

1. (determiner) your, yours (referring to one thing and to three or more people) - often followed by a noun but can stand without one.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 52-56;)

tā koutou hunaonga koe e whakahoki. / Your son-in-law will take you back.

Show example

Hide example

See also


2. (determiner) you (several people) have (one thing).

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 108-110;)

He ngeru tā koutou, e hoa mā? / Do you have a cat, friends?

Show example

Hide example


3. Used in these ways listed above when the possessor has control of the relationship or is dominant, active or superior to what is possessed.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 54-56, 140-141;)

tēnā koutou

1. hello! (speaking to three or more people), thank you.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 1;)

tō koutou

1. (determiner) your, yours (referring to one thing and to three or more people) - often followed by a noun but can stand without one.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 52-56;)

tō koutou hungarei koe e āwhina. / Your father-in-law will help you.

Show example

Hide example

See also


2. (determiner) you (several people) have (one thing).

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 108-110;)

He raruraru tō koutou, e hoa mā. / You have a problem, friends.

Show example

Hide example


3. Used in these ways listed above when the possessor has no control of the relationship or is subordinate, passive or inferior to what is possessed.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 54-56, 140-141;)

mā koutou anō koutou e kuhu

1. you can fend for yourselves - an idiomatic expression.

tēnā koutou i tēnei ahiahi

1. good afternoon, good evening - said to three or more people.

tēnā koutou i tēnei ata

1. good morning - said to three or more people.

Kei te pēhea koe?

1. How are you? - only used when speaking to one person. For two people use kōrua instead of koe, and for three or more people use koutou instead of koe.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 1-2;)

E pēwhea ana koe?

1. How are you? - only used when speaking to one person. For two people use kōrua instead of koe, and for three or more people use koutou instead of koe.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 1-2;)

Ka kite anō au i a koe.

1. I'll see you again. - only used when speaking to one person. For two people use kōrua instead of koe, and for three or more people use koutou instead of koe. Often shortened, incorrectly, to Ka kite anō or Ka kite.

e mea ana [koe]

1. you bet! - this colloquialism indicates that the questioner knows the response to the statement or question already. Koe may be replaced by kōrua, koutou or ia.

Kei te haere koe ki te whutupōro, nē rā? E mea ana koe! / You're going to the rugby, aren't you? You bet!

Show example

Hide example


2. are [you] suggesting? is [she] suggesting? you reckon that, of course it goes without saying - a colloquialism.

E mea ana ia nōu te hē? / Is she suggesting that it's your fault?

Show example

Hide example


3. who do you think!, what do you think! - to indicate that the questioner should know the answer to the question.

Kua kuhu mai te tamaiti i te whare, he kiore kei tana ringa, kua mate, kua kino katoa te āhua. Ka pātai ki tana pāpā: Me aha e au te mea nei? Pāpā: Hā! E mea ana koe! Haria ki waho! Kaua e meahia mai ki roto nei (HJ 2012:40). / The child has entered the house and has a dead, horrible looking rat in his hand. He asks his father: What should I do with this thing? Father: Huh! What do you think! Take it outside! Don't bring it in here.

Show example

Hide example

kōtou

1. (pronoun) you (three or more people) - variation of koutou. Like all pronouns and personals, takes a when following ki, i, kei and hei but does not take a when used as the subject of the sentence. Never occurs after he, te and ngā.

E moe kia māheahea ai kōtou mō āpōpō (TWK 31:23). / Go to sleep so that you have a clear head for tomorrow.

Show example

Hide example

See also koutou

e

1. (particle) Used before people's names of one long vowel or two short vowels when addressing them, with terms of address, and with nouns used as terms of address. Also used before koe, kōrua and koutou when they are used as terms of address.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 2;)

E Rangi, kei hea ō mōhiti? / Rangi, where are your glasses.
E hine, tīkina atu he kapu! / Girl, fetch a cup, please!
E te rangatira, he mihi nui ki a koe. / Oh chief, a great greeting to you.
E koutou, e ngā kapa toa o te motu, i hau ai ngā rongo o Te Taura Whiri i a koutou, tēnā rā koutou katoa i roto i ngā mihi mutunga kore (HM 3/1995:1). / You, the champion performing arts teams of the country, you have enhanced the reputation of the Māori Language Commission, so our eternal thanks to you all.

Show example

Hide example


2. (particle) Used before hia? and when stating numbers of things where the number begins with a word of one vowel or two short vowels.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 5, 16;)

E hia āna tāmure? E rua tekau mā tahi. / How many snapper does she have? Twenty-one.

Show example

Hide example


3. (particle) Used in commands before verbs of one long vowel or two short vowels.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 26-27, 67, 111;)

E inu, e hoa! / Drink up, mate!

Show example

Hide example


4. (particle) Used for negative commands after kaua.

Kaua e whakarongo ki a ia. / Don't listen to her.

Show example

Hide example


5. (particle) will - combines with to indicate future time when emphasising who will do something. The e will precede the verb.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 65; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 41-42;)

Pita tō tātou motokā e horoi. / Peter will clean our car.

Show example

Hide example


6. (particle) Used with verbs and ana to show action in progress.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 12, 120;)

Kei raro te koroua i te pōhutukawa e moe ana. / The old man is asleep under the pōhutukawa tree.

Show example

Hide example


7. (particle) Used before the verb with the particles ai, nei, and to show progress in action or a temporary state.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 12, 120;)

Ko wai tērā e tū mai ? / Who is that standing over there?

Show example

Hide example


8. (particle) will not - used after kāore before verbs in negative sentences when saying something will not be done.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 75-76;)

Kāore ahau e wehi ahakoa ko wai (TAH 8/1954:48). / I'm not afraid of anyone.

Show example

Hide example

See also kāore ... e


9. (particle) will not - used before kore and the verb in the future negative pattern.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 89-90;)

E kore tēnei wahine rangatira e wareware tata i ngā iwi i manaakitia ki tōna marae whakapaipai (TAH 3/1953:6). / This noble woman will not be forgotten in a hurry by the tribes that were hosted on her beautiful marae.

Show example

Hide example

See also e kore ... e


10. (particle) if, when.

E whiti koe ki tāwāhi, me hoko mai he hūtu hou mōku. / When you go overseas, buy me a new suit, please.
E kite koe i te nohoanga i ngā ware haere hei hoa kai tahi mō rātau (TTT 1/9/1923:1). / If you see a place where commoners are sitting go and eat with them.

Show example

Hide example


11. (particle) Used before the verb in 'if not' questions after ki te kore ....

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 67;)

Ki te kore e ua, ka haere tātou. / If it doesn't rain we'll go.

Show example

Hide example


12. (particle) Used before the verb in negative sentences using kua kore.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 89-90; Te Pihinga Study Guide (Ed. 1): 55;)

Paku noa iho te mataratanga atu o te waka i mua i a mātau, kua kore e kitea atu (HP 1991:182). / The distance from the vehicle in front of us was quite small, but it could no longer be seen.

Show example

Hide example

See also kua kore


13. (particle) will - in classical Māori used by itself in front of a verb without nei, , , ana or ai as a future time indicator.

Tērā pea e tae mai ia. / Perhaps she will arrive.

Show example

Hide example


14. (particle) Used before the verb in 'why not' questions after he aha ... i kore ai.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 23;)

He aha koe i kore ai e pōti? / Why didn't you vote?

Show example

Hide example


15. (particle) so that ... will not/would not - used after kia kore.

(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32;)

I whara te upoko o Tūpaea, ā, whakahaua ana e Hikareia he taua pouturiao hei hari i tana irāmutu ki Tauranga, kia kore ai a Ngāi Te Rangi e mahue ngārahu kore (TTR 1990:373). / Tūpaea was wounded in the head, so Hikareia ordered a guard of warriors to take his nephew to Tauranga so that Ngāi Te Rangi would not be left leaderless.

Show example

Hide example

See also kia kore ai ... e ...

1. (particle) there (by the listener) - used after nouns, location words, pronouns and personal names to indicate position or connection with the listener or the principal character in a narrative. Like the other two locative particles, nei and , it follows manner particles (i.e. kau, kē, noa, rawa and tonu) and directional particles (i.e. mai, atu, iho and ake) in the phrase if they are present.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 44;)

He tūtaeruru te ngārara . / That insect is a grass grub.

Show example

Hide example


2. (particle) Used to refer to something just said by the listener or the speaker.

I mua o te taenga mai o tēnei ope kua hoki mai anō a Rongo ki tētehi o ōna pā, ko Motu-wheteke te ingoa. Koia nā te pā i whawhaitia ai a Rongo (JPS 1911:104). / Before this war party arrived Rongo and his people had returned to one of his other pā, named Motu-wheteke. It was in this pā where Rongo was attacked.

Show example

Hide example


3. (particle) Used following possessive determiners to imply that the thing possessed is a little distance away, associated with the listener, or simply for emphasis.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 85-86;)

Whakarāpopototia ēnei kōrero ki āu ake nā kupu. / Summarise this story in your own words.

Show example

Hide example


4. (particle) who, that, which - when used in dependent clauses to refer to something or someone just mentioned or mentioned by, or associated with, the person being spoken to.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;)

Ko tēnā te kākahu i whatua e koe. / That is the cloak that you wove.

Show example

Hide example


5. (particle) Used following koe, kōrua, koutou when giving opinions, etc.

Ki a koe nā, me pōti au mō tēhea rōpū tōrangapū? / In your opinion, which political party should I vote for?
Ki a kōrua nā, he pai tonu hoki tēnei ture, nē rā? / In your opinion, this law is quite alright, isn't it?

Show example

Hide example


6. (particle) Sometimes used in close association with the same locative particle, or another, for emphasis e.g. nei nā.

I te kitenga atu o ngā koroua, o ngā kuia i te kaipuke o Kāpene Kuki, ka karanga, "He motu, he motu rere mai nō tawhiti ina e tere mai nei nā." (RK 1994:46). / When the elderly men and women saw Captain Cook's ship they called, "It's an island, it's an island sailing here from afar, it's sailing right here."

Show example

Hide example


7. Used as a suffix in the words such as tēnā, ēnā, pēnā, konā, anā and koinā.

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