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Loan words

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Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

taihoa [koe] ka kite

1. you'll soon see, you're bound to see, it won't be long before you'll see.

Taihoa koe ka kite i te hē o tāu mahi. / Soon you'll see the error in what you've done.

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tēnā koa

1. let me see it, let me see now, well then, now then, very well then, please - placed at the beginning of a request.

Tēnā koa neke mai ki konei. / Move over here, please
Tēnā koa, kia kite ahau. / Well then, let me see.

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Synonyms: koa, whakawaireka, , tēnā, tēnā ina

inā

1. (interjection) here! see here! how ...! - used to point out something or the reason for something and is often followed by hoki or .

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 119;)

Inā ōu mōhiti! / Here are your glasses!
Inā te nui o ā tātou kai! / What a lot of food we have!
E kore e tipu he paku aha i reira, inā te makariri. / Nothing will grow there because it's too cold.
Kua mōhio pea te ao, inā hoki i pānuitia ki te pouaka whakaata i te pō rā. / The whole world probably already knows, as it was broadcast on TV last night.
He tau pai mō te mahi māra, inā rā e kī ana ngā rua i te kai. / It was obviously a good season for the garden, as the food stores are full.

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2. (particle) so, really, how - used to emphasise a quality of something.

Inā te reka o aua kamokamo! Paupau ana i a māua! / Those kamokamo are so sweet! We polished them off!

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Synonyms: , koia, koia, tinana, koa, katoa, rawa, i neki, tonu, ata, rā anō, rā pea, rānō, mārie, mārika, mārire, ia rā, tino


3. (particle) When inā is used to emphasise statements about quality, the addition of nā, rā, ia and koa strengthens the meaning. These are usually written as one word.

Nāna i whakahauhau ngā toi whakarākai, inarā, ko ngā mahi whakairo me te tukutuku (TTR 1996:107). / He encouraged the decorative arts, especially carving and tukutuku work.

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mo kori ake

1. in case...may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for (variation of me i kore ake).

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 126-127;)

i

1. (particle) Used before verbs and statives to indicate past time.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 30-32, 82-85, 101-102; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 41-42;)

I ngongoro tō ihu inapō. / You snored last night.

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2. (particle) Combines with to form a past tense emphasising who or what did the action.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 30-32; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 41-42;)

Tio ngā tōtiti i tunu. / It was Joe who cooked the sausages.

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3. (particle) at, in, on, along, by way of - used before location words to indicate past location.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 29;)

I Ōtepoti rāua inanahi. / They were in Dunedin yesterday.

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Synonyms: runga, , ā, hei, kei,


4. (particle) has, had - used to state who or what had something.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 83;)

I a Poia taku waea pūkoro. / Poia had my cellphone.

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5. (particle) from - used with verbs of motion to indicate movement away from the place following.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 101; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 25, 26; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 63-64;)

I piki atu rātou i te pūtake o te maunga ki te tihi. / They climbed from the base of the mountain to the summit.

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6. (particle) Used with verbs that take a direct object or experience verbs not indicating motion to mark the object or goal of the action.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 41-42, 84;)

Kua kite rātou i Te Maioro Nui Whakaharahara o Haina. / They have seen the Great Wall of China.

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7. (particle) Connects a location word with its related noun or noun phrase.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 15-16;)

Kei runga te kī i te tūru. / The key is on the chair.

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8. (particle) by, with - used to mark the agent of stative verbs.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 57, 99-100; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 125;)

Kua riro te paoro i a ia. / She's taken the ball.

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9. (particle) while, during.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 101-102;)

I a ia e moe ana, ka hoki tana whaiāipo ki tōna kāinga. / While she was asleep, her boyfriend returned to his home.

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10. (particle) than, in comparison with - used when comparing things.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 101;)

He reka atu tēnei i tēnā. / This is sweeter than that.

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11. (particle) because, through, by reason of.

I tōna haurangi, ka hinga ia. / Because he was so drunk he fell over.

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12. (particle) Used in clauses expressing the reason for an action and in 'why' questions.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 23-24; Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 43-44;)

He pukuriri nōku i kōrero pēnei ai. / It was because I was angry that I spoke like that.

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13. (particle) per, each, every.

E rua ngā rā whakatā i te wiki. / There are two rest days per week.

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14. (particle) in case ... may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for - used between me and kore to express present or past hypothetical conditions.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 126-127;)

Me i kore koe, kua hinga tō tātou tīma. / If it weren't for you our team would have been defeated.

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mā te wā

1. see you later, time will tell.

Mā te wā e whakakite ngā hua o āu mahi nunui (TTT 1/6/1930:2070). / Time will reveal the fruits of your many deeds.
Ko hūpē, ko roimata hei whakamauru noa i te mamae e kai kino nei, ā, mā te wā rawa te rāwakiwaki e whakangaro (HM 4/2009:4). / Mucus and tears will ease the intense pain and eventually in time the depression will recede.

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me

1. (particle) if, if only - often implies the reverse of what is stated and can be used with the verbal particles i, ka, e ... ana and with he.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 66-67;)

Me he manu ahau, kua rere atu ki Rarotonga. / If I was a bird I would have flown to Rarotonga.

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2. (particle) as if, like - unlike other prepositions, me with this meaning can precede he.

(Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 63-64;)

He tino whero, me he pua rātā. / It's bright red, like a rata flower.

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Synonyms: matareka, riterite, manako, ōrite, pai, ānō, pīrangi, rata, rite, tairite, ānō nei, enanga, kei


3. (particle) in case ... may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 126-127;)

me/mai/mei kore ake ...

1. in case ... may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for, thanks to, it's just as well - an idiom praising the importance of someone's or something's contribution.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 126-127;)

Me kore ake koe hei whakaako mai i a mātou. / We were fortunate to have you to teach us.

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See also me kore ake, mei kore ake, me i kore, mai kore ake, me kore e


2. just like - this idiom can also be used to comment on the similarity of one person's talent to that of someone else.

Ira a Tarati e haka ana. Me kore ake te whaea. / Look at Dorothy performing. She's just like her mother.

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Synonyms: anō, me kore ake, mai kore ake, mei kore ake, tonu, rite tonu

me kore e

1. in case ... may, in the hope that, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for - used before a verb to introduce a clause expressing a purpose where there is some doubt that it will be fulfilled.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 126-127;)

Haere ai ngā tūroro ki Rotorua, me kore ō rātou mate e ora. / Invalids go to Rotorua in the hope that their ailments will be cured.

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See also mai kore ake, me

atarua

1. (verb) to be poor-sighted, vision-impaired.

I te tamarikitanga o te tangata e pakari ana e māia ana, ka koroheketia, ka atarua te kanohi, ā, ka mau ki te tokotoko (TH 1/10/1860:3). / When people are young, they are strong and bold, but when they become elderly, their eyesight becomes poor and they use a walking stick.

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Synonyms: kōnakonako


2. (modifier) weak (of eyesight).

Koia tēnei he mōhiti karaihe mō ngā kanohi atarua (KO 20/12/1887:7). / This is why there are spectacles for weak eyes.

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3. (noun) blurred vision, dim vision, poor eyesight, seeing double.

Nā i taua wā kei te takoto a Eri i tōna wāhi, kua tīmata hoki ōna kanohi te atarua, kāhore hoki i āta kite (PT 1Hamuera 3:2). / And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see.

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Synonyms: hinapō

tiemi

1. (verb) to jerk up and down.

Tiemi ana te haere o te wahine rā (W 1971:415). / That woman is jerking up down as she goes.

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2. (verb) to play see-saw.


3. (noun) see-saw.

E piki koe ki runga i te tiemi nei kia tākaro tahi ai tāua (PK 2008:921). / You climb onto the see-saw so that you and I can play together.

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Synonyms: tīemiemi, pīonioni

whēkite

1. (verb) to see unclearly.

Synonyms: matarehu, whēkitekite


2. (stative) dazzled.


3. (noun) dimness, haze.

whēkitekite

1. (verb) to see unclearly.

Synonyms: matarehu, whēkite


2. (stative) dazzled.


3. (noun) dimness, haze.

Ka kite anō au i a koe.

1. I'll see you again. - only used when speaking to one person. For two people use kōrua instead of koe, and for three or more people use koutou instead of koe. Often shortened, incorrectly, to Ka kite anō or Ka kite.

ā-kanohi

1. with one's own eyes, see in person.

Ka noho, ka roa, ka tutuki i a Pōtatau tana hiahia kia kite ā-kanohi tonu ia i te kauhanga riri (TTR 2000:161). / Eventually Pōtatau got his wish to see the front line with his own eyes.

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Synonyms: kite ā-kanohi

me kore ake

1. in case...may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for, thanks to, it's just as well - an idiom praising the importance of someone's or something's contribution.

He hui pai - i tutū te puehu, i whiua te kōrero, i tau te rangimārie i te mutunga iho. Me kore ake nei te hui Mâori, nē hā? (HM 4/1995:3). / It was a good gathering - there were arguments and accusations made but in the end peace prevailed. It's just as well Māori gatherings are like that, isn't it?
Me mihi rā ki ngā kapa o ngā tāone me kore ake hoki rātou i pēnei rawa ai te pukahu o ngā kapa tū ki Te Matatini. / We must acknowledge the urban groups without whom there would not be as many groups performing at Te Matatini.

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See also mei kore ake, mai kore ake


2. just like, similar to, the epitome of - sometimes used to indicate that someone's qualities are similar to those of someone else, or something else.

I kite au i a koe e pūkanakana ana. Me kore ake tō tipuna i a koe (HKK 1999:180). / I saw you doing the pūkana. You are the epitome of your ancestor.
Titiro ki tērā tangata e kai ana, me kore ake te poaka. / Look at that man over there eating just like a pig.

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See also mei kore ake, mai kore ake

Synonyms: anō, me/mai/mei kore ake ..., mai kore ake, mei kore ake, tonu, rite tonu, āhukahuka, kāhukahuka

mei kore ake

1. in case...may, were fortunate, to see whether, if it were not for, thanks to, it's just as well - an idiom praising the importance of someone's or something's contribution.

Mei kore ake koe hei tohutohu i a mātou. / We are fortunate to have you to advise us.

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See also me kore ake, mai kore ake


2. just like, similar to, the epitome of - sometimes used to indicate that someone's qualities are similar to those of someone else.

hei te wā tītoki

1. at some time in the future, I'll see you sometime.

pūrangiaho

1. (verb) to be seeing clearly, understand, know.

Ko wai te kaikōrero o tētahi reo, ahakoa te reo, e mārama ana, e pūrangiaho ana ki ngā kupu katoa o tōna reo? (HM 4/2009:3). / What speaker of a language, whatever the language, understands fully every word of that tongue.

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Synonyms: mahara, hua, matatau, mātau, mōhio

tīemiemi

1. (verb) to move up and down, sway up and down.

E tīemiemi ana te poti i te nui o ngā ngaru (PK 2008:921). / The boat is moving up and down from the size of the waves.

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Synonyms: pānukunuku


2. (noun) see-saw.

Synonyms: tiemi, pīonioni


3. (noun) blue damselfly, Austrolestes colensonis - a species smaller than a dragonfly.

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