Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

kauheke

1. (noun) elder.

Nāna anō i waihanga, i whakaemi mai rānei i ngā kauheke ētahi paopao, me ētahi atu momo waiata hoki. Hui katoa e 77 ngā waiata nei (TTR 1998:75). / He composed, or collected from elders, derisive songs and other song genre. Altogether there were 77 of these songs.

Show example

Hide example

See also kauwheke

tūnohunohu

1. (noun) elderly man, elderly woman, old person, elder.

Whakaopeti ana, whakamene ana ki Tāmaki-makau-rau te apārangi tūnohunohu i runga i te kōnga o te reo tāwhiri o te Ahorangi (HM 4/1993:7). / The company of elders assembled in Auckland on the call of welcome by the Māori Language Commissioner.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: wheteke, taringa huruhuru, pōua, ahungarua

hāmua

1. (noun) elder sibling, elder brother, elder sister.

Ko te hāmua o Mahuta ko Tiahuia, te whaea o Te Puea Hērangi (TTR 1996:83). / Mahuta's elder sister was Tiahuia, the mother of Te Puea Hērangi.

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) variety of native rat, Rattus exulans.

Ko te kiore te ingoa noa o tēnei kararehe ki Aotearoa nei, heoi, arā atu anō ngā ingoa: maungarua, mō te kiore rahi; tāpapa, he kiore ora te tipu; torokaha, he kiore nui; tokoroa, he kiore kiritea; hāmua, he tohu aituā, kīhai i kainga (Te Ara 2016). / Kiore is the usual name given to this species in New Zealand, although there are other names: maungarua is a large rat; tāpapa a well-grown rat; torokaha a big rat; tokoroa a white rat; while hāmua was a rat considered an ill omen and was not eaten.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kiore, muritai

pēperekōu

1. (noun) elderly woman, elderly man, elder.

Ko tāku e whakapae ana e kōrero kē ana rātou mō te hunga pēperekōu kaua i tā te Māori titiro ki tēnei mea, ki te kaumātua (HM 4/1998). / My criticism is that they are talking about geriatrics, not about elders the way that Māori view them.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: hākuikui, ngoingoi, kui, kuikui, hākui, rūruhi, ruahine, korokoroua, ruānuku, pou, koeke, kaumātua, koroheke, tauheke, koroua, kokoro, tāua, nehe

kaumātua

1. (verb) (-tia) to grow old, grow up.

I te mea kua tino kaumātua rawa atu te Mohi Tūrei rāua ko Tamihana Huata, ka whakaarohia e te Hāhi me penihana rāua (TP 4/1907:4). / Because Mohi Tūrei and Tamihana Huata are very elderly, the church thinks that they should receive pensions.
Kua kaumātuatia a ia, ā, ko tōna kanohi kurehe e kitea atu ana i raro i ōna makawe mā (TWK 35:19). / He had become old and his wrinkled face could be seen under his white hair.

Show example

Hide example


2. (modifier) elderly, old, aged.

Ka puta mai he tangata kaumātua he hina te māhunga (THNT 21/5/1863:4). / An elderly man with grey hair appeared.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tawhito, tuaukiuki, koroua, mātāpuputu, waikauere, korokoroua, pūkeko, tahito, tūpakeke, tūārangi, aweko, ahungarua


3. (noun) adult, elder, elderly man, elderly woman, old man - a person of status within the whānau.

I kite te kaumātua nei i te whakakaraunatanga o tētahi o āna tama hei kīngi mō Kirihi, ko tētahi he kāwana nō Kiriti (TP 2/1906:4). / This old man saw the crowning of one of his sons as King of Greece, and one son is Governor of Crete.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: pou, koroheke, tauheke, koroua, kokoro, tāua, nehe, korokoroua, ruānuku, pēperekōu, koeke

nehe

1. (location) ancient times.

Ko tētahi kōrero i rongo anō mātou i te hui, ko te kōrero mō tētahi tikanga o nehe (HM 2/2009:10). / An account we heard at the conference was about a custom from ancient times.

Show example

Hide example

See also neherā


2. (personal noun) elderly man, elderly women - used of elderly people, often as a term of address.

I whakamārama mai a nehe mā i piki ētahi mā te toi huarewa ki te toi o ngā rangi, arā ki tō runga rawa o ngā rangi tūhāhā (TTT 1/8/1923:6). / The old men and women explained that some climbed via the suspended way to the uppermost heaven, that is the the highest of the spaced heavens.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: pou, koroheke, tauheke, koroua, kokoro, tāua, korokoroua, ruānuku, kaumātua, pēperekōu, koeke

muanga

1. (noun) first-born, elder, elder child.

Ka whakapā atu tōna whānau ki te tohunga kia āraia atu te mate i whakahemohemo ai ana muanga, i taki ngaro katoa i te wā e tino tamariki tonu ana (TTR 1998:29). / Her family consulted a tohunga to prevent the problems that had caused the deaths of her elder siblings, who had all died when they were still children.

Show example

Hide example

korokoroua

1. (verb) to be elderly, old.

Ko tētahi matemate tēnei o te Māori ko ngā mate a te Pākehā. I mua, kāore he rewharewha i pā ki te Māori, me te pīwa, me te mītara, me te rūmātiki, me te huangō, me te karapu, me te tini o ō te Pākehā mate, ko tō te Māori mate kia korokoroua rawa ka mate ai (White 13 2001). / This is one problem of the Māori, the diseases the Pākehā brought. Before they came, Influenza, fever, measles, rheumatism, asthma and venereal disease did not affect the Māori. The Māori problem was when they were very old then they died.

Show example

Hide example


2. (modifier) old, elderly.

Kua eke aku tau mō te oranga korokoroua a te Hāhi Perehipitiriana (HP 1991:87). / I had reached the age for the Presbyterian Church's old-age pension.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tawhito, tuaukiuki, koroua, mātāpuputu, waikauere, pūkeko, tahito, tūpakeke, kaumātua, tūārangi, aweko, ahungarua


3. (noun) elderly man, old man, elder, grandfather, granduncle.

He tokomaha mātau, he kuia, he korokoroua te nuinga (HP 1991:255). / There were a lot of us, mostly elderly women and men.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: pou, koroheke, tauheke, koroua, kokoro, tāua, nehe, ruānuku, kaumātua, pēperekōu, koeke

tuākana

1. (noun) elder brothers (of a male), elder sisters (of a female), cousins (of the same gender from a more senior branch of the family).

Ko ngā tuākana ake o Tūmate Mahuta ko Te Rata, te Kīngi tuawhā, me Taipū, nō te tau 1924 tēnei i mate ai (TTR 1998:94). / Tūmate Mahuta's elder brothers were Te Rata, the fourth King, and Taipū, who died in 1924.

Show example

Hide example

tuakana

1. (noun) elder brother (of a male), elder sister (of a female), cousin (of the same gender from a more senior branch of the family), prefect.

Ka kite hoki taku tuakana i a au e tū ana i te taha o te huarahi i tō mātau kāinga, ka whakatū ia i ana hōiho, kia piki atu au ki runga i te rore, ka noho i tōna taha (HP 1991:22). / And when my elder brother saw me standing at the side of the road at our home he stopped his horses and I climbed onto the lorry and sat beside him.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: piriwheke

koroua

1. (verb) to be old, elderly.

Ko te tikanga ka toa ko koutou, i te mea kua koroua katoa rātou (HKK 1999:153). / You should win because they are all old.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tawhito, tuaukiuki, mātāpuputu, waikauere, korokoroua, pūkeko, tahito, tūpakeke, kaumātua, tūārangi, aweko, ahungarua


2. (noun) elderly man, old man, elder, grandfather, granduncle.

E rua ngā koroua kei tōku kāinga tonu nei kua kore e puta ngā penihana, he tungāne, he tuahine ko rāua, tino tika ana rāua mō te penihana (TP 5/1903:10). / There are two elderly people in my own village who have not received their pensions, a brother and sister, and they definitely qualify for the pension.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: pou, koroheke, tauheke, kokoro, tāua, nehe, korokoroua, ruānuku, kaumātua, pēperekōu, koeke

kuia

1. (noun) elderly woman, grandmother, female elder.

Kua haere kōtui atu ngā kuia ki te wharekai, me te katakata ki a rāua anō (PK 2008:341). / The elderly women have gone arm in arm to the dining hall, laughing to themselves.

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) grey petrel, Procellaria cinerea - a seabird with a stout bill, dark grey head, ashy grey upperparts and white underparts. The underwings and undertail are dark grey.

kauaemua

1. (noun) eldest brother, eldest sister, elder brother, elder sister.

Ko tōna whaea ko Mereana Waitere, hei kauaemua ki a Tene Waitere (TTR 1998:78). / His mother was Mereana Waitere, the elder sister of Tene Waitere.

Show example

Hide example

kui

1. (noun) grandma, old woman, elderly woman - a term of address for an older woman, especially an elderly woman.

Kei taku kākā tarahae, kei taku manu tīoriori kua mū nei koe i roto i te rā nei, me mihi taurangi noa rā te mihi ki a koe e kui, haere rā, haere atu rā! (HM 2/1994:2). / O my leader, my songbird, you have become silent now and we pay tribute to you, my elderly lady, farewell!

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: hākuikui, ngoingoi, tāua, kuikui, hākui, rūruhi, ruahine, pēperekōu


2. (personal noun) grandma, old woman, elderly woman.

Heoi anō, kei te haerea, kei te nōhia tonuhia te wao e Ngāi Tūhoe, e whai tonu ana i ngā mahi a kui mā, a koro mā (Te Ara 2016). / However, the bush is still travelled and inhabited by Tūhoe and they still follow the activities of their grandmothers and grandfathers.

Show example

Hide example

taikuia

1. (verb) (-tia) to be a fairly elderly woman.

Ruahine. Kua taikuia kē a Taukai i te wā e whakaaro ana i ēnei whakaaro (M 2006:244). / Taukai was getting on in years when she had these day-dreaming thoughts (M 2006:245).

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) fairly elderly woman, middle-aged woman.

He nui kē ngā taikuia, taikoroua i kōrero tahi ai rātou ko Te Putu (TTR 1998:85). / Kelly talked with a great many fairly elderly women and men.

Show example

Hide example

taua

1. (noun) grandmother, elderly woman (Ngāi Tahu dialect).

Ka rewa māua, kāore tētahi takata, wahine, tamaiti, taua, pōua, i mahue atu, peti katoa (MT 2011:69). / We set off and not one man, woman, child, elderly woman or elderly man was left behind, everybody was included.

Show example

Hide example

tauheke

1. (verb) to decline, deteriorate, degenerate.

Nō te murunga o ō rātau whenua tino tōtika, tauheke ana te tōnui, tauheke ana te ora o te iwi (TTR 1994:5). / When their most productive lands were confiscated their prosperity and life declined.

Show example

Hide example


2. (verb) to descend, go down.

Kua tauheke te haere o te rā (HTK 25/2/1893:4). / The sun has descended.

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) decline, deterioration, degeneration.

I whai wāhi mai a Āpirana Ngata ki te tuhituhi tonu mai mō te tauheke o te iwi, he aha ōna pūtake, he aha hoki ōna rongoā (TTR 1994:48). / Āpirana Ngata contributed writing about the decline of the people, its causes and remedies.

Show example

Hide example


4. (noun) old man, male forbear, elder.

Ko te waiata nei nā Timotu, he tauheke nō Te Pahunga Tumaroroa, ko ia te kaumātua o taua marae i te wā i tae nei a Te Hurinui (M 2004:366). / This song was by Timotu, a male forbear of Te Pahunga Tumaroroa, the elder of that marae at the time of the visit of Te Hurinui.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: pou, koroheke, koroua, kokoro, tāua, nehe, korokoroua, ruānuku, kaumātua, pēperekōu, koeke

hākui

1. (noun) mother, mum, old woman, elderly woman.

Ka pangā te paipa ki te ahi, hei te uinga a te hākui rā ki tana paipa, kua wera kē (TP 2/1904:1). / The pipe was thrown into the fire and when the elderly lady asked for her pipe it had already been burnt.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: ngoingoi, kui, tāua, kuikui, rūruhi, ruahine, pēperekōu, kōkā, kōkara, ūkaipō, kowhaea, hākuikui, whāwhārua, māmā, whaea, whaene

koeke

1. (verb) (-tia) to mature, grow old.

I a ia ka koeketia, i te kaha tonu ki te ārahi i tōna iwi, i a Tūhourangi me te iwi kāinga i Te Whakarewarewa; kāore tētehi take e ara, māna rawa e whakamana (TTR 1994:126). / When he reached old age he continued to lead Tūhourangi and the people of Whakarewarewa; nothing could be done without his approval.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: whatutoto, whakapakeke, pāhake, pakeke, taipakeke, tūpakeke, pakari, taikaumātua


2. (verb) (-tia) to distend, inflate, expand.

Kua koeketia te poho o te wahine nei (W 1971:123). / This woman has distended her chest.

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) elderly man, old man, adult.

Nā tōna pāpā ake me ngā koeke i whāngai ki ngā kai mārō a tōna iwi, ā, whakangaua rawatia ki te paepae (TTR 1994:124). / His own father and the elders fed him the deep knowledge of his people, and initiated him.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: korokoroua, ruānuku, kaumātua, pēperekōu, nehe, tāua, kokoro, koroua, tauheke, koroheke, pou


4. (noun) grasshopper.


5. (noun) shrimp, Paratya curvirostris - a species of freshwater shrimp endemic to Aotearoa/New Zealand. Found from North Island to Stewart Island, and including the Chatham Islands.


6. (noun) North Island freshwater crayfish, Paranephrops planifrons - found in native forest, exotic forest, and pastoral waterways, but very rarely in urban streams because of chemical pollution, increased flood flows from stormwater inputs, and degradation of habitat.

Synonyms: kōura, kēkēwai, kēwai

koro

1. (noun) elderly man, grandfather, grandad, grandpa - term of address to an older man.

Tāwhia kia mau, kia ita i roto i te heketanga o te wānanga o ngā karakia o te kete tūātea i a koe, e koro, e! (JPS 1926:107) / Retain and hold firm, be steadfast in the inherited knowledge of the ritual chants of the art of magic that you possess, sir!

Show example

Hide example

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