Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

tūpuna

1. (noun) ancestors, grandparents - western dialect variation of tīpuna.

Kua mate noa atu ō mātou tūpuna. / Our grandparents died long ago.

Show example

Hide example

See also tupuna wahine

tupuna

1. (noun) ancestor, grandparent - western dialect variation of tipuna.

He uri whakaheke ia nō Rāhiri, he tino tupuna nō ngā iwi katoa o Te Tai Tokerau (TTR 1996:41). / He was a direct descendant of Rāhiri, an important ancestor of all Tai Tokerau tribes.

Show example

Hide example

See also tupuna tāne, tupuna wahine, tipuna

tūpuna tāne

1. (noun) grandfathers, grand-uncles, great-uncles, male ancestors - the western dialect form of tīpuna tāne and plural form of tupuna tāne.

He epeepe tonu nei rāua, ā, i te wā e kōhungahunga tonu ana i puta ai te whakahau a wō rāua tūpuna tāne rā, kia taumautia rāua i runga anō i te tikanga o te tomo (TTR 2000:68-69). / They were distant cousins and when they were still quite young their grandfathers decreed that they be betrothed under the customary practice of betrothal.

Show example

Hide example

See also tīpuna tāne

Synonyms: tīpuna tāne

tūpuna wahine

1. (noun) female ancestors, grandmothers, great grandmothers – the western dialect form of tīpuna wahine and plural form of tupuna wahine.

Kua ngaro ō koutou tūpuna tāne, tūpuna wahine (TMP 25/7/1893:3). / Our male and female ancestors are gone.

Show example

Hide example

whare tupuna

1. (noun) meeting house.

Tērā ētahi Māori kāore anō kia whakawhiti i te paepae o te whare tupuna. There are some Māori who haven't crossed the front threshold of the meeting house. /

Show example

Hide example

tupuna tāne

1. (noun) male ancestor, grandfather, great grandfather, forefather.

Ko te tupuna tāne o Peka nō Tahiti, ko tōna tupuna wahine nō Hawai‘i (TP 9/1907:4). / Baker's grandfather was from Tahiti and his grandmother was from Hawai‘i.

Show example

Hide example

See also tūpuna tāne

Synonyms: tipuna tāne

tupuna wahine

1. (noun) female ancestor, grandmother, great grandmother.

Ko te tupuna tāne o Peka nō Tahiti, ko tōna tupuna wahine nō Hawai‘i (TP 9/1907:4). / Baker's grandfather was from Tahiti and his grandmother was from Hawai‘i.
He uri anō hoki ia nō te tupuna wahine, nō Waimirirangi (TTR 1990:69) / She was a descendant of the female ancestor, Waimirirangi.

Show example

Hide example

take tupuna

1. (noun) ancestral land right - continuous occupation of land through several generations.

Nāwai ā, ka hanumi te take whenua kite ki te take tupuna. Mā te take tupuna kaha ake ai te kerēme a ngā uri whakaheke ki te whenua i nōhia tuatahitia e ō rātou tūpuna. Mā te whakapapa e whakaatu ai i te take tupuna (Te Ara 2014). / Over time the right of first discovery merged with ancestral rights. Ancestral rights strengthened descendants' claims to land, if it was still occupied by the descendants of those ancestors. Ancestral land rights are shown through genealogies.

Show example

Hide example

mana tūpuna

1. (noun) power through descent.

whaikōrero

1. (verb) (-tia) to make a formal speech.

Mutu ana te tangi, kei runga ngā kaumātua, kei te whaikōrero ki te manuhiri (TP 4/1907:7). / As soon as the weeping ended the elders are up and making speeches to the guests.

Show example

Hide example

See also whai kī, whaikupu, whaikī

Synonyms: whaikī, whaikupu


2. (noun) oratory, oration, formal speech-making, address, speech - formal speeches usually made by men during a pohiri and other gatherings. Formal eloquent language using imagery, metaphor, whakataukī, pepeha, kupu whakaari, relevant whakapapa and references to tribal history is admired. The basic format for whaikōrero is: tauparapara (a type of karakia); mihi ki te whare tupuna (acknowledgement of the ancestral house); mihi ki a Papatūānuku (acknowledgement of Mother Earth); mihi ki te hunga mate (acknowledgement of the dead); mihi ki te hunga ora (acknowledgement of the living); te take o te hui (purpose of the meeting). Near the end of the speech a traditional waiata is usually sung.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 243-247;)

Nā Rēweti Kōhere te whaikōrero mō tēnei take, ā ko tēnei hoki te tino take i kōrerotia i tēnei hui (TP 3/1904:10). / Rēweti Kōhere spoke about this matter and this was the main topic discussed at this meeting.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: onetū, whaiwhaikōrero


3. (noun) oral evidence.

I tino kaha te tahuri o ngā Kaiwhakawā ki te whiriwhiri i ngā whaikōrero i tukuna ai ki te Kōti i ngā whakawā e rua (RT 2013:103). / The Judges set about vigorously discussing the oral evidence submitted to the Court in the two cases.

Show example

Hide example

tipuna

1. (noun) ancestor, grandparent, grandfather, grandmother - singular form of tīpuna and the eastern dialect variation of tupuna.

E kore au e kōrero he toa tōku tipuna ki te riri (TTT 1/9/1931:31). / I would never say that my ancestor was brave in battle.

Show example

Hide example

See also tupuna tāne, tipuna wahine

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