Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

te mutunga (kē) mai (nei) o te ...

1. the ultimate in, absolutely, the epitome of, the best, the worst - an idiom used to exclaim about the quality of something or someone, both good and bad.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 147;)

Ko te mutunga mai o te riko o tēnei rūma. / This room is filthy.
Kei reira ētahi whakaahua te mutunga kē mai nei o te ātaahua (HM 3/1998:7). / At that place there were some photographs that were extremely beautiful.
Taringa morimori? Āe, te mutunga kē mai! / Stubborn? Yes, with a vengeance!

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: ehara ehara, , anō, moruka, mārika, tahi, mōrukaruka, mārire, pohapoha, puru, piropiro, hāwerewere, rukaruka, mārie

tino kino te pai

1. quite the best, too much, that's great - an idiomatic expression.

kāore/kore (kē) he painga i [a Mea]

1. [so-and-so] is very good at, [you're] too much, [you're] on to it, no flies on [you], no sweat, without peer, no comparison, [you're] the best - an idiom used to say how very good someone is at a particular activity, or how excellent something is.

Kāore he painga i a Poia mō te tito waiata. / Poia is outstanding at composing songs.
Kore he painga i a koe mō te kōrero paki. / You're too much at telling yarns.
Mō te komekome, kāore he painga. / For whinging, she’s without peer.

Show example

Hide example

See also kāhore he painga ki a

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