inā
1. (interjection) here! see here! how ...! - used to point out something or the reason for something and is often followed by hoki or rā.
(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.
2. (particle) so, really, how - used to emphasise a quality of something.
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.
