Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whakawai

1. (noun) drill.

whakawai

1. (verb) (-a,-tia) to divert, amuse, tempt, beguile, persuade, seduce.

Ka tāmaua a Pīhanga hei wahine mā Tongariro, heoi nā Taranaki a Pīhanga i whakawai (Te Ara 2013). / Pīhanga was betrothed as Tongariro’s wife, but she was seduced by Taranaki.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: whakapakepake, whakawaiwai, whakakīkī, whakawherewhere, whakawhere, hīanga


2. (verb) (-a,-tia) to entice, lure.

Kāore hoki tō rātou pā e taea ake; nā, ka whakawaia kia hekeheke iho (M 2004:328). / Their fortified position was impregnable; and thus they had to be enticed by deceit to leave and to descend.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: poapoa, tīmori, kohinu, whakapoapoa, whakakonuka, maimoa, poa, pātoi


3. (verb) (-a) to practise, rehearse.

He kaha ki te whakawai, koirā i rerehua ai tana porotiti i te poi (RMR 2017). / It's because she practises so hard that her twirling of the poi is so appealing.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: parakitihi, whakaakoako, mahi, akoako, whakaharatau, whakahāngai, haratau


4. (modifier) treacherous, deceitful, double-crossing, perfidious, duplicitous, underhand.

Ka haere nei a Te Maunu me te tamaiti iti; i te moana ka patua a Te Maunu rāua ko te tamaiti. He kōhuru whakawai e Ngā Puhi (JPS 1945:194). / Te Maunu and the little son departed and out at sea Te Maunu and the son were killed. This was a treacherous murder by Ngā Puhi.

Show example

Hide example


5. (modifier) military training.

I muri mai ka whakatūria atu a ia hei kaingārahu kamupene mō te hokowhitu whakawai i te puni hōia i Papakura (TTR 1998:181). / After that he was appointed as a company commander for the training battalion at Papakura Military Camp.

Show example

Hide example


6. (noun) amusement, temptation, distraction.

Nō te ekenga ki te Kaunihera Ture he kōrero kē hoki. Ka tūpato ētahi i a Taiaroa, ka mea ētahi kua riro ia i ngā whakawai a te kāwanatanga (TTR 1994:104). / After his appointment to the Legislative Council he was regarded differently. Some became cautious of Taiaroa and some said he had been been taken over by the temptations of the government.

Show example

Hide example


7. (noun) weaponry practice.

Kua uru ia ki ngā whakawai riri (JPS 1911:18). / He had taken part in weaponry practice.

Show example

Hide example

whakawai

1. (noun) jamb - post that forms the side part or upright of a door or window frame.

whakawai riri

1. (noun) military exercise.

whaitua whakawai

1. (noun) (practice area) range.

para whakawai

1. (verb) to practise the use of weapons.

Kātahi ka para whakawai taua tamaiti nei, ka mōhio ki te mau patu (W 1971:262). / Then that child practised the use of weapons and would know how to use weapons.

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) trial of skills in a game or a sport.

He rawe a Kurawhā mehemea ka tū ki te para whakawai (W 1971:262). / Kurawhā is excellent if trials of skill in games are held.

Show example

Hide example

papa whakawai hōia

1. (loan) (noun) parade ground.

Kua tae kē ki te wā kia haere mātau ki runga i te papa whakawai hōia ki te mahi i ā mātau mahi, ki te haratau i ā mātau mahi hīkoi haere, mau pū, ērā mea katoa (Milroy 2015). / It was already time for us to go onto the parade ground to do our activities, to practise our marching, presenting arms, and all those other activities.

Show example

Hide example

whakawaiwai

1. (noun) (training) practice.

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