Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

kauaka

1. (interjection) do not, don't, should not - variation of kaua.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 67; Te Pihinga Study Guide (Ed. 1): 40-41;)

Kauaka taua tamaiti e whakaaetia kia tauera i tōna kanohi ki te tauera o te katoa (TTT 1/11/1927:686). / That child should not be allowed to dry his face with the towel used by everybody.

Show example

Hide example

See also kaua

Synonyms: kaua, kia, kauraka, auaka, auraka

auaka

1. (negative) do not, don't, should not, must not, had better not - shortened form of kauaka.

Ka mea atu a Māui ki tōna kōkā, “E kui! Koia anō i taringa turi ai ō tamariki. Kāti, māku noa e tiki he ahi.” Ka mea mai te kuia rā, “Auaka koe e haere ki te tiki ahi, koi hangarau koe ki tō tipuna.” (JPS 1929:21). / Māui said to his mother, "Old lady! Your children don't listen. Well, I will fetch some fire." The elderly woman said, "Don't you go and fetch fire, lest you play tricks on your ancestor."

Show example

Hide example

See also kaua, kauaka, auraka, kauraka

Synonyms: kaua, auraka, kauaka, kia, kauraka

kaua

1. (negative) do not, don't, had better not - for negative commands. Other dialectal forms include aua, kauaka and kauraka.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 67; Te Pihinga Study Guide (Ed. 1): 40-41;)

Kaua koe e haere! / Don't you go!

Show example

Hide example

See also kauaka, kauraka, aua, auaka


2. (negative) should not - used in negation following kia.

Me whakatū he pōti mō te waipiro, kia whakaaetia, kia kaua e whakaaetia ki Te Rohe Pōtae. / A referendum should be held as to whether or not alcohol should be allowed into the King Country.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kauaka, kia, kauraka, auaka, auraka


3. (negative) must not - sometimes used in negation following me.

Me kaua a Kura-mōnehu e tere te whakaae atu ina tono a Rōra kia moe rāua. / Kura-mōnehu shouldn't be in a hurry to agree when Rōra requests that they wed.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: auaka, auraka


4. (negative) not - used when negating a single phrase, not the whole sentence.

Nō te Rātapu ia i haere ai, kaua i te Rāhoroi. / She went on Sunday, not Saturday.
Ka tū tēnei ki runga i te marae, kaua ki roto i te wharekai (Kāretu 2015). / This was held on the marae, not in the dining hall.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: karekau, kārekau, kāhore, kore, hore, horekau, kāore, kāre, , hore kau

kaua mā

1. it's not for - there are numerous variations possible with this, e.g. kaua (e tukua) mā ...kaua e (waiho) mā .... This is used particularly for commands and instructions. Kauaka may replace kaua.

Ā taihoa, mā te katoa o te whānau e whakatau, kaua mā Tītaha anake (HKK 1999:107). / Hang on a minute, it's for the whole family to decide, not for Tītaha alone.
Whakahokia mai tā mātou kupu e mea atu nei kia mutu atu tēnei Kōti, kaua e tukua mā te kino e whakamutu, engari, māu, māku e whakamutu i runga i te rangimārietanga (TW 22/6/1878:316). / Let's go back on our suggestion that this Court should end, don't let ill will put an end to it, but it is for you and me to conclude it in peace.

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