nā
1. (interjection) now, now then - used at the beginning of a particular stage of a narrative to call attention, to explain what has been said previously, etc. May also be pronounced with a short vowel, i.e. na.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 127-128;)
2. (particle) by, made by, acted on - combines with i to form a past tense emphasising who or what did the action, sometimes called the actor emphatic. This grammatical construction is only used with transitive verbs, not with intransitive verbs, with statives (neuter verbs), or with verbs in the passive.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 30-32; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 41-42;)
Synonyms: mā
nā
1. (particle) there (by the listener) - used after nouns, location words, pronouns and personal names to indicate position or connection with the listener or the principal character in a narrative. Like the other two locative particles, nei and rā, 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;)
2. (particle) Used to refer to something just said by the listener or the speaker.
I mua o te taenga mai o tēnei ope kua hoki mai anō a Rongo ki tētehi o ōna pā, ko Motu-wheteke te ingoa. Koia nā te pā i whawhaitia ai a Rongo (JPS 1911:104). / Before this war party arrived Rongo and his people had returned to one of his other pā, named Motu-wheteke. It was in this pā where Rongo was attacked.
3. (particle) Used following possessive determiners to imply that the thing possessed is a little distance away, associated with the listener, or simply for emphasis.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 85-86;)
Whakarāpopototia ēnei kōrero ki āu ake nā kupu. / Summarise this story in your own words.
4. (particle) who, that, which - when used in dependent clauses to refer to something or someone just mentioned or mentioned by, or associated with, the person being spoken to.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;)
5. (particle) Used following koe, kōrua, koutou when giving opinions, etc.
Ki a koe nā, me pōti au mō tēhea rōpū tōrangapū? / In your opinion, which political party should I vote for?
Ki a kōrua nā, he pai tonu hoki tēnei ture, nē rā? / In your opinion, this law is quite alright, isn't it?
6. (particle) Sometimes used in close association with the same locative particle, or another, for emphasis e.g. nei nā.
I te kitenga atu o ngā koroua, o ngā kuia i te kaipuke o Kāpene Kuki, ka karanga, "He motu, he motu rere mai nō tawhiti ina e tere mai nei nā." (RK 1994:46). / When the elderly men and women saw Captain Cook's ship they called, "It's an island, it's an island sailing here from afar, it's sailing right here."
7. Used as a suffix in the words such as tēnā, ēnā, pēnā, konā, anā and koinā.
nā konā
1. therefore, consequently, as a result, accordingly, on that account, for that reason, hence, thus.
Ko tāna ki a rāua he whiu, arā, me e whai tamariki ana ka whānau mai, me tuku te tamaiti mā ētehi kē e taurima. Nā konā i ora katoa ai ngā tamariki a Maata, nā ōna whanaunga kē i whakatipu (TTR 1996:230). / He informed the couple that if they had children their penalty was to forfeit the care of their offspring to others. Accordingly, Maata's children were all brought up by her relatives.
Synonyms: i konā, nā konei, nā reira, nō konā, nō reira, heoi, heoti, hoi, hoi anō, oti anō, wheoi
nā reira
1. therefore, that's why, so, consequently, for that reason, hence, thus, accordingly.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 2;)
He nui tonu rātou i mōhio rawa atu ki te kuia nei, nā reira me pēhea e taea ai te roimata te pupuri? (HM 4/2009:1) / Many of them knew this elderly woman well, so how could they hold their tears back?
See also nō reira
Synonyms: i konā, nā konā, nā konei, nō konā, nō reira, heoi, heoti, hoi, hoi anō, oti anō, wheoi
koia nā
1. (interjection) it is that, that is just, just that, that's just, it's that.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 8;)
Koia nā te mate o te Rōpū Nāhinara. / That's just the problem with the National Party.
Synonyms: koia rā
wehi nā
1. oh my goodness, oh my god, that's amazing - an idiom to express amazement and surprise at something.
Pare: I whiwhi tohu te tamaiti a Kahu i te whakataetae Manu Kōrero. Rangi: Wehi nā,/b>! Ko tērā he tamaiti nohopuku i te nuinga o te wā (HKK 1999:118). / Pare: Kahu's son obtained an award at the Manu Kōrero speech competitions. Rangi: That's amazing! That's a boy who is silent most of the time.
Synonyms: engari (tonu)
ia nā
1. (particle) then, indeed, therefore - words to add emphasis, including to questions and commands. Sometimes written as one word, i.e. iana.
He tika ia nā. / That's very true.
Tēnā iana, whakaarohia te rerekētanga o te mita o te reo Ingarihi o te Kōtimana, o te Tatimana, o te Tiamana, o te Marikena, o ngā tōpito tonu o te whenua o Ingarangi! (HM 1/1997:6). / Then consider the differences in the accent of the English language of a Scotsman, a Dutchman, a German, an American and of the different parts of England.
See also ina
nā wai tāu?
1. who told you that? what a lot of rot! balderdash!.
(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 133;)
Synonyms: nā wai [hoki] tāu
nā konā anō/tonu ...
1. so that's the reason, so that's why - an idiom used when someone has had something explained to them and they finally realise the reason. Similar to 'the penny's dropped'.
Mai rā anō, he hoa piripono rāua. Ā kāti, nā konā tonu ia i haere ai ki te whakanui i tana huritau. / They have been close friends for ages. Ah! So that's why she went to her birthday celebrations.
nā te mea
1. because, from the fact that.
I whakahē a Āpirana Ngata i te rironga o te whakahaere o te hokowhitu Māori i a Awatere, nā te mea hoki he tangata kakī mārō rite tonu ki ōna tīpuna (TTR 2000:10). / Āpirana Ngata had opposed Awatere's taking command of the Māori Battalion because he had a of a stubborn streak like his ancestors.
nā whai anō ...
1. so that's the reason, so that's why, it's no wonder, it's not surprising, that'll be why, well that explains it - an idiom used when someone has had something explained to them and they finally realise the reason. Similar to 'the penny's dropped'. Also as inā whai anō.
He whaiāipo tā Ngāhuia. Nā whai anō ia i kore ai e haramai i taku taha ki te pikitia. / Ngāhuia has a boyfriend. So that's the reason she won't come to the movies with me.
Ko te āhua nei e rangirua tonu ana ngā whakaaro o te kāhui ariki tae noa ki te pōtitanga o 1931, ā, nā whai anō rā i tarea tonutia ai e Piupiu a Eketone te tautoko (TTR 1996:254). / It would seem that the King's family were quite ambivalent extending into the 1931 election, and it's no wonder Piupiu was able to support Eketone.
Tau: I tae atu a Tama Purotu ki te pō kanikani. Ira: Inā whai anō i hiahia ai a Hinerera ki te haere (HJ 2012:48). / Tau: Tama Purotu arrived at the dance. Ira: So that's why Hinerera wanted to go.
kātahi (nā) ka ...
1. that's better, now you're talking, I'm glad to hear it, that's terrible - an idiom used to show agreement or support, or sometimes disapproval, for a comment about a change to what is considered to be the correct course of action.
E pā, kua whakaaro ake ahau me tuhi tāku tuhinga whakapae ki te reo Māori kē. Kātahi nā ka tika! / Sir, I am now considering writing my thesis in Māori instead. Now you're on the right track.
