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Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

kōrero pono

1. (verb) (-hia,-ngia,-tia) to tell the truth, be honest, be truthful, speak the truth.

E kōrero pono ana au ki te aroaro o Te Atua (HP 1991:188). / I am telling the truth before God.

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2. (noun) true story, non-fiction writing, factual text.

Ko tēnei kōrero he kōrero pono kāore e taea te whakahē (HTK 5/8/1893:9). / This account is a true story that can't be contradicted.

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Synonyms: pono

tika

1. (verb) to be correct, true, upright, right, just, fair, accurate, appropriate, lawful, proper, valid.

He tokomaha tonu ngā Māori kei te tāone e noho ana, nō reira hoki tētahi take i tika ai kia tū te mīhana ki reira (TP 7/1913:6). / There are quite a lot of Māori living in town, so that's a reason why it's appropriate that the mission be established there.

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See also me ... (rā) ka tika

Synonyms: tūturu, tou, noa, noa iho, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu, kau, ia rā, heipū, mārie, mārika, mārire, ia, ake, tata


2. (verb) to be straight, direct, keep on a direct course.

Ka tika kē mai taua taua ki Hātaitai, ki Uruhau, ki Te Aka-tarewa, ki Te Wai-hirere, kia tahuri ēnei pā (JPS 1919:90). / The war party headed straight for Hātaitai, Uruhau, Te Aka-tarewa and Te Wai-hirere to overthrow these pā.

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3. (modifier) correctly, directly, fairly, justly, straight - indicates a direct path.

Nā konei ka kī ia ko tēnei kēmu kīhai i riro tika (TJ 20/6/1899:9). / As a result he says that this game was not won fairly.
Ka piki ki runga i te tima Ingarihi, kua wareware au ki te ingoa, ka rere tika ki Īnia mā te moana anō o Īnia (HP 1991:221). / We boarded the English ship, I've forgotten its name, and sailed straight to India via the Indian Ocean.

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4. (noun) truth, correctness, directness, justice, fairness, righteousness, right.

Ko te putiputi hei mauranga mā te tangata i tēnei rā he kāneihana mā, te tohu o te tika, o te pai (TP 7/1909:6). / The flower for a person to carry on this day is a white carnation, the symbol of fairness and good.

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See also tika tangata

Synonyms: manatika, haepapa

pono

1. (adjective) be true, valid, honest, genuine, sincere.

Mehemea he pono te aroha o te tangata ki te wahine, o te wahine rānei ki te tāne, e kore rawa e mātoke, ahakoa whakararurarutia e ngā whanaunga engari ka kaha kē atu (TTT 1/10/1924:117). / If a man truly loves a woman, or vice versa, it will not go cold, and despite problems caused by relatives it will become stronger.

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2. (noun) truth, non-fiction, validity.

Kua kitea e mātou te pono o aua kupu (TWM 18/9/1869:1). / We have seen the truth of those words.

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Synonyms: kōrero pono

pononga

1. (modifier) true, genuine, unfeigned, honest, serious.

Ka parau kau tana kupu, kia haere ia ki te patu i tana mōkai, kia kīia ai e ngā tāngata, e haere pononga ana ki te patu i tana mōkai (NM 1928:142). / His words feigned that he would go to beat his servant, so that the people would say that he was really going to punish his servant.

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2. (noun) honesty, truthfulness, genuineness.

Kāore ahau e raparapa i tōu pononga (Ng 1993:208). / I'm not in doubt about your honesty.

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waha hakirara

1. (noun) waffler, someone with nothing meaningful or truthful to say.

Kaua e tukuna te waha hakirara rā kia tū. He hangahanga noa ana kōrero (HJ 2017:13). / Don't let that waffler stand. What he says is of no account.

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paraki waha

1. (noun) frothy mouth, someone with nothing meaningful or truthful to say.

He paraki waha, he hāwatewate, he titotito (NP 2001:107). / A frothy mouth, lies and fabrications.
He paraki waha kau anō. He kōrerorero tonu te waha hei huna i te teka, i te kore mōhio (HJ 2017:13). / Just a frothy mouth. Talks continuously to conceal the lies and lack of knowledge.

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i neki

1. did she, did he, did they, is that right, really, is that a fact, no way - an exclamation of amazement or surprise. Sometimes also used to indicate disbelief or to question the truth of something.

Tio: Kua panaia a Piripi i tana mahi. Hera: I neki? He tangata pukumahi hoki ia. / Joe: Phillip has been sacked from his job. Sarah: Really? And he's such a hard worker.

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Synonyms: e hawa (e hawa), weta, tōu ene, auare ake, e, he aha hoki

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