Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

kai-

1. Prefix added to verbs which express some kind of action to form nouns denoting a human agent (i.e. the person doing the action), e.g. kaikōrero (speaker), kaitiaki (guardian, trustee), kaimahi (worker), kaihoko (seller), kaituhi (writer) and kaitito haka (haka composer). This prefix cannot be used with verbs the meaning of which indicates a state, not an activity, e.g. moe and . In other words, only transitive verbs can take the prefix kai-. There are exceptions to this rule, notably kainoho (inhabitant). Some of the words created by this use of kai- are listed in this dictionary, but the list is not exhaustive.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 48-49;)

He kaiārahi ia i Te Whakarewarewa. / She is a guide at Whakarewarewa.

Show example

Hide example

See also kaihoe, porokaihākere

kai

1. (verb) (-nga,-ngia) to eat, consume, feed (oneself), partake, devour.

E te iwi, he haukai tēnei kei tō aroaro, kainga! (TTT 1/7/1930:2099) / People, this is a feast placed before you, devour it!

Show example

Hide example


2. (verb) (-nga,-ngia) to drink - used for any liquid other than water.

Ka rīria a Hōne e Apirana he kaha nōna ki te kai waipiro (TTR 1998:184). / John was reprimanded by Apirana because he drank alcohol to excess.

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) food, meal.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 33-34; Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 35-49;)

He nui te kai: te parāoa, te huka, te tī, te pīkara, te tōhi, te pīwhi, te poaka, me te tini o ngā kai (KO 15/12/1886:8). / There was plenty of food: bread, sugar, tea, pickles, toast, beef, pork, and much more.

Show example

Hide example

See also hari kai

Synonyms: renga, kamenga

kai

1. (verb) to fulfil its proper function, have full play, have full effect.

E whiti, e te rā, e kai ki taku kiri (W 1971:86). / Shine, o sun, have full effect upon my skin.
E kore e mau i a koe he wae kai pakiaka (W 1971:86). / You will not catch feet used to running among tree roots. (A whakataukī stressing the value of experience for success.)

Show example

Hide example

kai

1. (noun) riddle, puzzle, toy.

Synonyms: panga, whakapōkaikaha, pere

kai

1. (particle) at (eastern dialect variation of kei).

kāī

1. (noun) mataī, black pine, Prumnopitys taxifolia - a coniferous, long-lived native tree of lowland forest with small, narrow leaves arranged in two rows, hammer-marked trunk and pale timber. Ripe seed is a deep blue-black with a pale purplish bloom.

See also mataī

Synonyms: māī, kākāī, mataī

mua kai kai

1. (electoral system) first-past-the-post.

mua kai kai

1. (economics) pure competition.

kai hinengaro

1. (noun) quiz.

kai roro

1. (noun) quiz.

kai ruaki

1. (noun) recidivism.


2. (noun) recidivist.

kai mahara

1. (noun) guessing game.

pū kai

1. (noun) oesophagus.

kai whiore

1. (noun) incest.

E whakaae ana ngā ngaio tikanga Māori ehara te kai whiore (ngau whiore rānei) me te pāwhera i te āhuatanga nō te ao Māori tūturu (Te Ara 2014). / Experts on Māori customs agree that incest and rape were not condoned in the traditional Māori world.

Show example

Hide example

kai inati

1. (noun) overdose.

rūma kai

1. (loan) (noun) dining room.

Ko ngā rūma moe kei ngā whakapaparanga o runga, kei raro ko ngā rūma kai, horoi, me ētahi o ngā rūma mō ngā karaihe (TTT 1/4/1924:21). / The dormitories are on the upper stories and below are the dining rooms, wash rooms and some rooms for classes.

Show example

Hide example

tunu kai

1. (noun) cooking.

(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 35-45;)

Kei a ia mō te tunu kai (HKK 1999:14). / She's got it when it comes to cooking.

Show example

Hide example

wāhi kai

1. (noun) café, restaurant, eating out, cafeteria.

I te tau 2008, e mea ana te kaunihera, e 350 te maha o ngā pakihi tāpoi Māori ki Aotearoa nei. 37 ōrau ō ēnei he haerenga, 15 ōrau he noho, 15 ōrau he toi Māori, 12 ōrau he whakamīharotanga, 11 ōrau he toa hokohoko, 7 ōrau he wāhi kai, 5 ōrau he haerenga mā runga waka, 5 ōrau he haka me te hāngī, 1 ōrau he noho marae (Te Ara 2013). / In 2008 the council noted that there were more than 350 Māori tourism businesses operating in New Zealand. Of these, 37% were guided tours, 15% were accommodation, 15% were arts and crafts, 12% were attractions, 11% were retail, 7% were eating out, 5% were transport, 5% were concerts and hāngī, and 1% were marae stays (Te Ara 2013).

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: wharekai

hoko kai

1. (verb) to buy food, to sell food.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 93-98;)

huanga kai

1. (noun) crop.

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