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Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

ānau māori

1. (noun) normal curve (maths).

Ka kīia he ānau māori te rārangi e whakaatu ana i te tuari māori (arā, he hangarite te āhua o te rārangi) (TRP 2010:296). / A line showing normal distribution is called a normal curve (that is the shape of the line is symmetrical).

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huruhuru

1. (noun) hair, feather, coarse hair, bristles (not normally of the head), fur.

Ka hūhunutia te poaka, kātahi ka waruwarua te kiri kia ngahoro mai ai ngā huruhuru (PK 2008:147). / The pig is singed and then the skin is scraped to remove the hair.

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māori

1. (modifier) normal, usual, natural, common, ordinary.

“He tino momo rānei te hōiho naka?” “Kāhore, he hōiho māori noa iho nei anō." (JPS 1893:117). / “Is that horse a thoroughbred?” “No, it is just an ordinary horse.”

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Synonyms: urutapu, horomata, kaipaipa, kai parāoa, noa, kai paipa


2. (modifier) native, indigenous, fresh (of water), belonging to Aotearoa/New Zealand, freely, without restraint, without ceremony, clear, intelligible.

Kakū ana tana ngao i ngā kai papai a te Pākehā, engari ko tēhea atu hoki i te kānga kōpiro, i te toroī, i te kōura mara, i te kina i rāua ki te wai māori mō ngā rā e toru, i te kōuka, i te mangō me te kererū huahua, he mea kōtutu katoa i roto anō i ōna hinu (TTR 1998:206). / He enjoyed the finest of Pākehā foods but relished fermented corn, pickled pūhā and mussels, crayfish fermented in fresh water, sea-urchins steeped in fresh water for three days, inner baby fronds of the cabbage tree, shark, and wild pigeons preserved entirely in their own fat.

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Synonyms: toi, taketake


3. (modifier) freely, without restraint, without ceremony, without object, unannounced.

Mō te tūpono peka māori mai koutou kia kite i tēnei whakahaere e kī nei mātou e mate ana i te tuakoka, i te pōhara, he whakatūpato noa atu tēnei kia kaua e whētuki i te āhua o tō mātou tari (HM 3/1994). / In case you make an unscheduled visit to see this operation, we are saying we are poverty-stricken, which is a caution to not be shocked at the nature of our office.

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4. (noun) aboriginal inhabitant, indigenous person, native.

I runga i te tima ka tūtaki ahau ki ētahi māori nō ngā motu, nō Hāmoa (TP 2/1903:10). / On the ship I met some indigenous people from the islands, from Samoa.

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See also Māori

tuari māori

1. (noun) normal distribution.

Ka kīia he ānau māori te rārangi e whakaatu ana i te tuari māori (arā, he hangarite te āhua o te rārangi) (TRP 2010:296). / A line showing normal distribution is called a normal curve (that is the shape of the line is symmetrical).

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tītari māori

1. (noun) normal distribution.

toto rōnaki

1. (noun) normal blood pressure.

taea

1. (verb) to be able, accomplished, possible - although this word derives from tae and its passive ending -a, it has developed a feature distinct from the normal passive construction, in that the action of which someone is said to be capable is preceded by te and no preposition. Unlike other verbs in the passive which do not take a passive ending when following me, taea may occur after me. If taea is modified by a base and/or a particle, which would normally take a passive ending after a verb in the passive, then that base or particle also has a passive ending (usually -tia).

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 75-76;)

Ka taea ēnei kōrero e ia te tuhi. / He is able to write down this account.
Kīhai i oti i a ia tana tohu paetahi; ahakoa i taea ngāwaritia noatia e ia te nuinga o ngā mahi (TTR 1996:66). / He did not complete his BA; although he was able to do most of his subjects quite easily.

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See also tae, tareka

Synonyms: kaha, tare, āhei, waewae kai pakiaka, tareka, kei a [koe] mō te ..., toa, ringa rehe, Kei a ... mō te ..., riwha

tae

1. (noun) hue, dye, colour, stain, pigment - not normally used before the names of colours.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 86; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 162-165; Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 63-64;)

Ko te tae o ngā hune, e rite ana ki te pūkohu, ā, he kōrangorango te āhua (HM 4/1998:4). / The colour of the down feathers is similar to moss and is mottled.
Ina ranua te kōwhai me te whero, ko te karaka ka hua mai (HJ 2012:98). / When yellow and red are mixed together, orange results.

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Synonyms: kano

taipō pīwa

1. (loan) (noun) typhoid fever, typhus - an example of two words that commonly go together being treated as though they were one word when borrowed into Māori. With normal word order in Māori, one would expect the loan to be pīwa taipō, which is also common in the literature for the first half of the 20th century, but taipō pīwa, or mate taipō, is much more common in modern Māori.

I whakaatu anō ia i te āhua o te taipō pīwa, te pūtake mai me te rongoā (TP 5/1901:11). / He gave instruction on the nature of typhoid fever, the origin and the cure.

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See also pīwa taipō, taipō, taipō piua

tamariki

1. (verb) (-ngia,-tia) to be young.

I te wā e tamariki ana koinā te mahurutanga o te tangata. Ko tēnā te wā hei whāwhātanga ki te mātauranga (TTT 1/2/1925:179). / During the time of childhood a person is untroubled. That's the time to tackle education.

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2. (modifier) young, youthful, immature (of people).

Kāore i pērā ngā rangatira tamariki ake (TTR 1990:231). / He is not like younger chiefs.

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3. (noun) children - normally used only in the plural.

E rua ngā kōti tēnehi, me tētahi wāhi purei hōkī, otirā he wāhi motuhake mō ngā tini tākaro a ngā tamariki (TTT 1/12/1930:2201). / There were two tennis courts and a place to play hockey, indeed a special place for the many children's games.

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whaka-

1. (particle) to cause something to happen, cause to be - prefixed to adjectives, statives and verbs that do not take a direct object, including reduplicated forms.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 111-112;)

E whakatikatika ana te kaiako i ngā mahi a Hirini. / The teacher is correcting Sydney's work.

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2. (particle) Used with a few verbs of perception that take a direct object, i.e. kite, mōhio, rongo, inu, and ako.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 111-112;)

E whakakite ana ia i tana pūtōrino ki ngā whakaminenga. / She is showing her pūtōrino flute to the audience.

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3. (particle) When used as a prefix with a stative the word becomes a verb that takes a direct object and takes a passive ending in passive constructions.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 111-112;)

Kua whakapaua aku moni e taku tama. / My son has spent my money.

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4. (particle) to become a, translate (with names of languages) - prefixed to some nouns to form both verbs that take a direct object and verbs that do not.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 111-112;)

I mōhio iho au ki ngā tāngata i whakaingoatia. / I knew the people named.

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5. (particle) towards, in the direction of - when prefixed to location words, especially mauī, matau, katau, mua, muri, raro, roto, runga and waho, and to nouns, in which case they will be preceded by te. With mauī, matau and katau, te may precede the location word or it may be omitted. With these they are sometimes written as three words separated by hyphens, e.g. whaka-te-moana. These words are normally used only as second, qualifying bases in a phrase.

(Te Kākano Audio Tapes/CDs (Ed. 2): 112;)

I Waihī ka huri whakauta te ope taua ka whai i te whārua o Pongakawa (TTR 1900:171). / From Waihī the war party turned inland and proceeded along the Pongakawa river valley.
Huri whakatemauī! / Turn left, please!
I te atapō tonu ka maunu te pā nei, ka haere, ka ahu whaka-Waikato (JPS 1899:180). / Just before dawn they retreated from this pā, departed and headed towards Waikato.
Ka titiro whakatemoana te iwi rā; hoki rawa mai te titiro kua ngaro te wahine nei (M 2004:160). / The people all looked towards the sea, and when their gaze returned this woman had disappeared.
Ka patua ko Tākaha i Ōtāwhao i te taha whakauta o Waipāwa (TTR 1990:347). / Tākaha was killed at Ōtāwhao on the inland side of Waipāwa.

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See also whakawaho, whakatekaraka, whakamauī, whakamatau, whakamua, whakamuri, whakararo, whakaroto, whakarunga, whakatehauāuru, whakatekatau, whakatemarangai, whakatemauī, whakatemoana, whakateraki, whaka-tētehi-taha, whakatetonga, whakateuma, whakateuru, whakatonga, whakauta, whakaterāwhiti


6. (particle) In a few words of some other classes whaka- may also be used, e.g. āe, atu, kāhore and kore.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 111-112;)

Kīhai rāua i whakaae kia haere au ki te pakanga i Irāki. / They did not agree that I should go to the war in Iraq.

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7. (particle) a particular use of the prefix whaka- with numerals is for fractions, but this use is uncommon in modern Māori. Used this way as a noun or to follow a noun as a modifier (i.e. as an adjective).

Āta wehea te whakatekau o ēnei moni mō ngā mahi a Ihowā, tō tātou Atua, arā, mō Tōna Hāhi, mō te kawe i te Rongo Pai ki ngā Tauiwi, mō te whāngai rawakore, pouaru, tūroro, me ērā atu tini mahi pai, mahi aroha (TP 1/9/1901:5). / Carefully divide off a tenth of this money for the work of Jehovah, our God, that is, for His Church, for conveying the Gospel to the heathens, for feeding the poor, widows, invalids, and for those many good works and deeds of charity.

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See also whakatekau

huainanga

1. (noun) fat hen, Chenopodium album - a very common weed, especially in arable districts. Growing mainly in spring and summer, this erect weed can grow up to 2m tall. It is known as a very competitive weed due to its ability to remove moisture from the soil even in dry conditions. The grey-green leaves are up to 7cm long, sword shaped and have margins that appear toothed. Main stems and laterals often have green, yellowish or sometimes reddish ribs and can become quite hardy. Normally forms very small green flowers between December and May that develop into a tight cluster of seeds up to 30cm long. Seeds remain viable in the soil for long periods of time.

Te tupunga ake o te māra nei he runa anake, he wekahu, he huainanga, he horera ngā kai (TP 2/1909:4). / What grows in this garden are dock, fat hen, and sorrel.

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kaikaranga

1. (noun) caller - the woman (or women) who has the role of making the ceremonial call to visitors onto a marae, or equivalent venue, at the start of a pōwhiri. The term is also used for the caller(s) from the visiting group who responds to the tangata whenua ceremonial call. Traditionally this role was based on one's status within the hapū or whānau, the eldest sister normally being given the role. Skilled kaikaranga are able to use eloquent language and metaphor and to encapsulate important information about the group and the purpose of the visit.

Ki tā Iranui, i ngā wā o mua i haere ngā wāhine me te kaikaranga o te manuhiri ki waenganui o te ope whakaeke ki runga i te marae, ā, ko ngā tāne kei ngā taha ki te tiaki i ngā wāhine. / According to Iranui, in former times the women and the caller of the visitors went in the middle of the group going onto the marae and the men were at the sides to protect the women.

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ruahine

1. (verb) to become elderly, grow old - of a woman.

I a Te Puea ka ruahine haere, ka pupū ake te wehi o te rangatahi i a rātou e mātakitaki ana i a ia e whakahaere ana i ngā take a te marae (TTR 1996:52). / As Te Puea grew older the young ones were in awe of her while they were watching her directing the affairs of the marae.

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2. (noun) elderly woman.

Ka kī atu ki te ruahine, “E kui e! Tāua ka haere." (JPS 1905:76). / He said to the old woman, “O old woman! Let us go."

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Synonyms: pou, rūruhi, hākuikui, ngoingoi, kui, tāua, kuikui, hākui, pēperekōu


3. (noun) woman of importance used in certain ceremonies for the removal of tapu, e.g. house openings - normally this would be the eldest female from a family of rank.

I te patunga i ngā tautīaki, me te paepae-tapu-nui-a-Tāne tae noa ki te pikitanga a te ruahine i te paepae-tapu-nui-a-Tāne; me te whakatuwheratanga o te tatau; me te pikitanga i te paepae poto a te ruahine: kāore i te eke ngā karakia e hāngai ai te piki i ngā paepae e rua me te whakatuwhera o te tatau (TTT 1/5/1930:2055). / From the striking of the upright posts beneath the front bargeboards of the meeting house and the sacred threshold of Tāne including the climbing over of the sacred threshold of Tāne by the ruahine; the opening of the door; the climbing over of the door sill by the ruahine; the ritual chants used were not appropriate for stepping over the two thresholds and the opening of the door.

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makehua

1. (modifier) innumerable, numerous, countless - normally follows tini.

Ka tiraki ana ngā kapua i ngā pō, ka kitea ngā whetū tini makehua o te rangi. / When the clouds clear at night the multitude of stars in the sky can be seen.

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Synonyms: tuarea, maruru, mahamaha, rea, tini, tokomaha, maha, tuauriuri, papata, wene, makiu, rahi, huhua, nui, hira

matakopa

1. (noun) floor space and corner on the left on entering a wharenui - normally the place where the local people of the marae sit or sleep.

Ka uru a Tukutuku ki roto o te whare ... ka tīkina ki te matakopa titiro mai ai (NM 1928:165). / Tukutuku entered the house and was taken to the corner on the left to watch.

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See also kopa iti

a

1. (particle) Used before people's - names, wai, mea and personified objects when they stand as the subject of the sentence and when they follow i, ki, hei and kei.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 13, 57, 83, 102; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 25;)

Kua riro te paoro i a Māia. / Māia has taken the ball.

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2. (particle) Used before personal pronouns (except ahau) when they follow i, ki, hei and kei. NB a is pronounced long before koe and ia.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 57, 83, 102;)

Kua mau te tuna i a ia. / She has caught the eel.

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3. (particle) Used before place names and location words when they stand as subject of the sentence.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 24-25;)

He wera a waho. / It's hot outside.

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4. (particle) Sometimes used as a literary device before words that would normally be used as nouns or verbs.

Kāti, kua huri te ihu o tōu ake waka ki Waitematā i runga anō i te āki a rūrūtake, a wheori (HM 2/1992:1). / Well, the prow of your canoe has turned towards Waitematā because of the urging of shaking and quivering of old age.

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he ... te patunga

1. the only thing that we can do, the only outcome, the only thing I'll be doing - an idiom to indicate an activity is the normal outcome or result of some other activity or state.

Rangi: Kua tino hiamoe nei au. Pare: Tāua tahi. Ka tae atu au ki te kāinga, he moe te patunga (HKK 1999:138). / Rangi: I'm really sleepy. Pare: That's both of us. When I get home the only thing I'll be doing is sleeping.

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kopa

1. (noun) space in front of a house.

E puta ki waho rā, kia tāpapa koe te kopa o te whare (MM.TKM 1/2/1855:29). / Go outside to lie in the space in front of the house.

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2. (noun) floor space and corner on the left on entering a wharenui – normally the place where the local people of the marae sit or sleep.

rākau

1. (noun) tree, stick, timber, wood, spar, mast, plant - not normally used before the names of trees or plants.

Kua hōhonu ki te whenua ngā pakiaka o te rākau e kore e taea te huhuti (TWM 17/7/1869:1). / The roots of the tree are deep into the ground and cannot be pulled out.
Kua hokona he karaka, rākau nei, mō taku kāinga (HJ 2012:98). / A karaka, the tree, has been bought for my home.

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Synonyms: rewa, tira, maihi, maihe, māhi, tipu, rumaki, tiri, tiritiri, kōkō, whakatō, whakatōtō, whakatopatopa, marotiritiri, tanu, pou, tou


2. (noun) weapon, arms, bat.

He manuao ririki rawa iho ēnei, he torutoru ōna pū, he tere, ko tana tino rākau patu he tōpiro (TP 11/1899:3). / These are much smaller warships, with few guns, are faster and their main weapons are torpedoes.

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Synonyms: hauhau


3. (noun) challenge stick - the stick or baton that the kaiwero lays down at the pōhiri to a distinguished visitor.

Ka takoto tana rākau, ka hoki whakamuri, ka tīmata ki te ngangahu, me te whiu tika i tana taiaha, me te hūpekepeke a ōna waewae (HP 1991:84). / His challenge stick lay there and he moved backwards and began to make high pitched yelps, to wield his taiaha and to jump up and down with bent legs.

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