Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

1. (verb) (rāngia) to wed, marry - only used in this passive form.

Ko te wahine nāna tēnei waiata nō Ngāti Rora, hapū o Ngāti Maniapoto, ko Mahora te ingoa. I rāngia a Te Rangi-hiroa hei tāne māna (TTT 1/12/1928:s52). / The woman who composed this song was from Ngāti Rora, subtribe of Ngāti Maniapoto. Her name was Mahora and she married Te Rangihīroa.

Show example

Hide example

See also rāngia

Synonyms: moe, moemoe, whakamoemoe, mārena

1. (particle) over there, there, yonder - used after nouns, location words, pronouns and personal names to indicate position or connection not near or connected with the speaker or listener or the principal characters in a narrative. It may indicate a spacial distance, or a distance in past or future time as discussed below. Like the other two locative particles, and nei, 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;)

Kātahi anō te tangata ka puta mai. / The man over there has just appeared.

Show example

Hide example

See also raka, rārā

Synonyms: korā,


2. (particle) Used to imply distance from the present time, either in the past or future.

Ka mahi rātou i runga anō i ngā tikanga o mua rā. / They worked in accordance with the customs of earlier times.
Tēnei ka rongo au kua whakaae a Tā Hōri Kerei kia tū tēnei Pire i tēnei tau anō, engari hei tērā tau rā anō whakatūturutia ai hei Ture (TWMNT 2/11/1875:260). / I heard that Sir George Grey has agreed that this Bill should be passed this year, but that its final passing into law should be next year.

Show example

Hide example


3. (particle) that, which, who - when used in relative clauses after the verb. The verb will be preceded by i or e.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;)

Kei te tika tonu ngā kōrero mō ngā tohorā i ārahi atu i te waka, i a Tākitimu. / The narratives about the whales that guided the Tākitimu canoe there are quite correct.

Show example

Hide example


4. (particle) I wonder - an intensifier especially used with questions.

Ka pēhea ā rātou kōrero mōku? / I wonder what they will say about me?

Show example

Hide example


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

Mutu rawa tōna waiata, ka whakatarunatia kia titiro te iwi nei ki te moana, ka karanga, “Ka puta rā rā! Ka puta rā rā!” (M 2004:160). / After singing her song, she enticed the people to look towards the sea, calling out, “There it goes! There it goes!”

Show example

Hide example


6. (particle) Used as an intensive in greetings and requests.

Haere ! / Goodbye!

Show example

Hide example


7. (particle) Used as a suffix in the words such as tērā, ērā, pērā, korā, arā and koirā.

See also koirā, korā, pērā, ērā, tērā

1. (particle) by way of, via - variation of .

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 47-48;)

Ka tae te roko ki Ruapuke ki a Tūhawaiki, ki a Haereroa, ki a Takatahara me ētahi atu toa o Kāi Tahu, ka maraka mai te taua, ka rere mai ka ū ki Taikonui, ka waiho kā waka i reira, ka haramai rā uta (JPS 1901:94). / The news reached Ruapuke Island, to Tūhawaiki, Haereroa, Takatahara and other warriors of Ngāi Tahu. Their war-party arose, and sailed over landing at Taikonui, where they left their canoes and came on by land.

Show example

Hide example

1. (noun) sun.

Ka haupū te kupenga tawhito ki uta, ki ngā parenga o ngā wai tauraki ai ki te , ka maroke, ka pakapaka (TP 1/1/1901:6). / The old net lies in a heap on the shore and on the banks of streams to dry in the sun. It dries out and is baked.

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) day.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 219;)

I te i iriiritia ai rātou, kotahi tonu te hūtu i waenganui i a rātou katoa (TTT 1/11/1921:10). / On the day that they were baptised they only had one suit between them all.

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) sail (of a canoe).

Ka mea atu a Tama ki ngā kaimahi o runga o tōna waka, "Hūtia te punga, tākiritia hoki ngā ." (NM 1928:60). / Tama said to the crew on his canoe, "Raise the anchor and unfurl the sails."

Show example

Hide example

āe rā

1. without a doubt, no doubt.

Āe rā, i mate ia ki te pae o te pakanga (HP 1991:127). / No doubt he died on the battlefield.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: (e) kore e hapa, kāore e hapa, kāore e kore

ngā ... rā

1. (particle) those (away from the speaker and listener) - alternative form of ērā.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 44;)

Nō te Pirimia ngā motokā . / Those cars over there belong to the Prime Minister.

Show example

Hide example

rā anō

1. (particle) right to, as far as, since long ago - used with time expressions and emphasises the extent of the time interval involved.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 147;)

Nō mai rā anō tēnei mahi ā tātou. / This activity of ours has been done since time immemorial.

Show example

Hide example

See also rānō,


2. (particle) right from, all the way, finally, actually, really, even - used for emphasis or as an intensifier. When following a verb in the passive, a passive ending (i.e -hia or -tia) is also used with rā anō.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 147;)

I haria mai te kūmara i Hawaiki rā anō. / The kūmara was brought here all the way from the homeland.
He nui ngā hui a Tūhoe i tū ki te kōrero i tōna kawa. I te mutunga iho tērā pea kua uaua rawa te ū ki ērā tikanga i kōrerotia e ō māua kaumātua, i āta tuhia rā anōhia ērā mea katoa i kōrerotia hei titiro mā Tūhoe (Kāretu 2015). / There have been many Tūhoe gatherings held to discuss its kawa. In the end it's perhaps too difficult to maintain those customary practices talked about by our elders, all those things actually written down that were discussed for Tūhoe to look at.

Show example

Hide example

See also rānō


3. (particle) until, only when - indicates a condition needs, or needed, to be met in order for something else to be achieved or completed.

Kaua e haere kia oti rā anō ngā rīhi te horoi. / Don't go until the dishes have been washed.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: rawa

rā mahi

1. (noun) working day.

rā pea

1. (particle) indeed, actually, really - adds emphasis. Often written as one word in earlier texts, i.e. rāpea.

Kua kitea ake rā pea te kai e au i mua. Tēnā ko taku tāne kātahi nei au ka kite ki tēnei mea a te moe tāne (JPS 1952:180). / I have seen food before, but now for the first time I experience the joys of marriage.

Show example

Hide example

rā mōnehu

1. (noun) expiry date.

Mēnā kua hipa kē te rā mōnehu, porowhiua, ka tiki i tētahi mea hou (HM 2/2004). / If the expiry date has passed, throw it away and fetch a new one.

Show example

Hide example

rā okioki

1. rest day, weekend.

te ... rā

1. that (away from both the speaker and listener) - with a noun.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 44;)

He tarapiroe te manu . / That bird over there is a black-fronted tern.

Show example

Hide example

rā whānau

1. (noun) birthday, happy birthday.

Nō te rā whānau o te Kīngi (Hune 3) ka whakaputaina ngā hōnore ki ngā tāngata nunui o tana emepaea (TTT 1/6/1927:610). / On the birthday of the King (June 3) the honours for the important people of his empire were announced.

Show example

Hide example

Rā, Te

1. (location) Daggs Sound (Fiordland).

koia rā

1. (interjection) it is that, that is just, just that, that's just, it's that, that is, that was, those are, those were.

Kāore kē he wāhi ki a ia o te patunga o Te Pēhi Kupe, te rangatira o Ngāti Toa. Koia rā hoki te tino kaupapa o te riri (TTR 1990:135). / He had not been involved in the killing of Te Pēhi Kupe, the Ngāti Toa chief. That was the main cause for the conflict.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: koia nā

rā whakatā

1. (noun) rest day, weekend.

Hei ngā rā whakatā, he mea nui kia haere ki ngā toa hokohoko (Te Ara 2013). / Shopping has become a major weekend activity.

Show example

Hide example

ia rā

1. (particle) then, indeed, in fact, really, actually, undoubtedly, just - words to add emphasis, including to questions and commands. Sometimes written as one word, i.e. iara.

Kia tauta i te 'Waka' kei tītaha, kei tahuri; kei kīia he hau nō uta, he hau riporipo kāore iara nō te moana anō i tahuri ai (TWMNT 15/3/1879:340). / Ballast the 'Waka' (newspaper), lest it lose its equilibrium and capsize; lest it be said it was overset by a wind from the land (i.e. by Māori), whereas, in fact, it was overturned by a wind from the ocean —(i.e. by Pākehā).
He aha ia rā te hua o te horoi i ngā matapihi? E rua rangi ake nei, kua mōnenehu anō i te rehutai (HJ 2015:106). / Just what is the point of cleaning the windows? In just a couple of days they'll be blurred again from the spray.

Show example

Hide example

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

rā mōmōhanga

1. (noun) fine day in winter.

Rangi: Kātahi te rangi paihuarere! Pare: Āe rā - he rā mōmōhanga (HKK 1999:19). / Rangi: What a fine day! Pare: Yes - it's a fine winter's day.

Show example

Hide example

nei rā

1. the fact was - used to introduce explanatory sentences.

Nei rā kua rīria kētia ia e te kaiako. / The fact was that she had already been reprimanded by the teacher.

Show example

Hide example

See also nei

nē rā

1. is it not? won't you? won't we? isn't it? isn't she? isn't he? - interrogative emphasising a question, request or proposal.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 75;)

Ko Tāne-mahuta te atua o ngā ngahere me ngā manu, nē rā? / Tāne-mahuta is the atua of the forests and birds, isn't he?

Show example

Hide example

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