Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

nui

1. (verb) to be large, big, many, plentiful, numerous, great, abundant, ample, superior, of high rank, important.


2. (noun) size, quantity, vastness, greatness, importance, amount, abundance, plenty, rank.

I ngā awa o Tongariro me Waitahanui tonu, inā kē te nui o te moni e utua ana ki ngā hapū me ngā tāngata nō rātau ngā whenua, me ka whakawhiti nei te hunga mahi taraute i aua whenua rā (TTR 1998:197). / Especially the Tongariro and Waitahanui rivers, substantial income was paid to the hapū and the people who owned the land if the people fishing for trout crossed those lands.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: maruru, ngahue, maha, makuru, makurutanga, mahi, hira, huhua, huhuatanga, humi, pukahu, rahinga, ranea, tōnuitanga, harahara, kōhangohango, rārangi, tūtira, tūnga, ripa, kapa, rangea, kaipukahu

nui

1. (adjective) openly, in public.

manawa nui

1. (noun) tolerance.


2. (adjective) tolerant.

tāwaha nui

1. (noun) wind from the sea - north and north-east in the Bay of Plenty.

kōpiro nui

1. (noun) large intestine, colon.

I te kōpiro nui ka mitia te wai o roto i te toenga kai (RP 2009:349). / In the large intestine water is absorbed from the food residue.

Show example

Hide example

tai nui

1. (noun) spring tide, king tide, tidal wave, huge tide.

Tekau mā rua putu te teitei o te tai nui i pā atu ki te ākau o Tonga, he motu kei te taha whakarua o Niu Tīrani (TWMNT 5/6/1877:149). / The tidal wave that struck the shores of Tonga, islands to the north-east of New Zealand, was twelve feet high.

Show example

Hide example

See also taitai nunui

kōpūpūtai nui

1. (noun) large cup sponge, Gellius imperialis - bright red and about 250 mm tall shaped like a cup.

pūnu nui

1. (loan) (noun) tablespoon.

Kotahi pūnu nui o te rongoā mō ngā pāhake i ngā wā e maremare ana (TJ 24/5/1900:8). / One tablespoon of medicine for adults at the times when they are coughing.

Show example

Hide example

Nui Tīreni

1. (loan) (location) Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Hei te 25 o ngā rā o Pēpuere ka tīmata te hui ā-tau a ngā tākuta o Nui Tīreni me ētahi takuta manuhiri tūārangi o ērā atu wāhi o te ao ki Rotorua (TTT 1/1/1928:714). / On 25 February the annual conference of New Zealand and international doctors begins at Rotorua.

Show example

Hide example

Piritini Nui

1. (loan) (location) Great Britain.

He koroni nō Piritini Nui a Niu Tīreni i mua atu o te tau 1907. / New Zealand was a colony of Great Britain before 1907.

Show example

Hide example

Piritana Nui

1. (loan) (location) Great Britain.

He nui anō te iwi Māori kei tāwāhi, e 70,000 ki Ahitereiria, e 10,000 ki Piritana Nui (Te Ara 2012). / Many also lived overseas, with 70,000 in Australia and 10,000 in Great Britain.

Show example

Hide example

See also Piritini Nui

aroha nui

1. much love, with deep affection - often used in signing off letters to friends.

tara nui

1. (noun) floor space on the right on entering a wharenui and the place where manuhiri sleep.

Ka haria mai e te manuhiri ā rātou kawenga ki roto i te wharenui. Ko rātou ki te tara nui o te whare moe ai, ko te tangata whenua ki te tara iti (TWK 46:13). / The visitors take their luggage into the meeting house. They sleep on the right side on entering a meeting house, the local people are on the left side.

Show example

Hide example

Nui Piritana

1. (loan) (location) New Britain.

ipuipu nui

1. (noun) boiling tube.

huinga nui

1. (noun) superset (maths).

Mēnā kei roto ngā huānga katoa o tētahi huinga i tētahi huinga nui ake, ka kīia he huinga iti tētahi, he huinga nui tētahi. Ko te ⊂ hei tohu i te huinga iti, ko te ⊃ hei tohu i te huinga nui. Hei tauira: A = {1, 2, 3} E = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} Hei huinga iti te A ki te E (A ⊂ E). Hei huinga nui te E ki te A (E ⊃ A) (TRP 2010:128). / If all the elements are in a larger set, it is called a subset and the other is a superset. The symbol ⊂ is for a subset, the symbol ⊃ s for a superset. For example: A = {1, 2, 3} E = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} where A to E (A ⊂ E) is a subset. E to A (E ⊃ A) is a superset.

Show example

Hide example

Tōtara-nui

1. (location) Queen Charlotte Sound.

porowhita tino nui

1. (noun) giant circle, giant ring, ferris wheel.

Kākā waha nui

1. A metaphor comparing a speaker (orator) to the kākā (Nestor meridionalis).

I reira rā te kākā waha nui o te iwi e tū ana e taki whakapapa ana i runga i te marae / The orator of the people was there recounting geneaology on the marae.

Show example

Hide example

Kūkū tāngaengae nui

1. Gluttonous person compared to a kūkū (native wood pigeon) who eats too much.

Kātahi ko te kūkū tāngaengae nui ko koe! / You're such a glutton!

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