Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whānau ariki

1. (noun) celestial bodies - stars, planets, meteors, constellations, comets, the sun, the moon.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 165-180;)

E mōhiotia ana ngā mea katoa kei te rangi ko te whānau ariki, ko te whānau mārama anō hoki (Wh4 2004:165). / All the things in the sky are known as the 'whānau ariki' and the 'whānau mārama'.

Show example

Hide example

See also whānau mārama


2. (noun) aristocratic family.

Ko te āhua nei, nā Te Marae i whakarite te mārena o Piupiu ki a Kainuku Vaikai, ki te whanaunga o Mākea Nui o te whānau ariki o Rarotonga (TTR 1996:253). / It would seem that Te Marae arranged Piupiu's marriage to Kainuku Vaikai, a kinsman of the Makea Nui ariki family of Rarotonga.

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