Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

irirangi

1. (verb) to be restless, unsettled, agitated, uneasy, edgy, on edge.

Kāore e tau ki te kai, kua irirangi te tangata ki te haere (W 1971:80). / The man can't settle to eat, he's anxious to go.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kairangi, ikimoke, karore, kaparangi, kārangirangi, tāhurihuri, ānau, hikimoke, kārangi, tītengi, kōkeko


2. (verb) to sound eerie - see explanation below.

I te waiatatanga i te waiata nei, ka irirangi ngā reo o ngā kaihāpai i te waiata. I te pērātanga ka mōhiotia he tohu aituā (NIT 1995:355). / When this song was sung the voices of the accompanying singers sounded with the particular tone called 'irirangi', which was considered to be a bad omen (NIT 1995:354).

Show example

Hide example


3. spirit voice - an eerie, high pitched off key note, or harmonic, sometimes heard near the ceiling of the meeting house above people singing. It was sometimes regarded as a bad omen and a portent of death.

Mehemea ka waiata tātou ki roto i te whare, ā, ka rangona te waha e waiata ana i waho, he waha wairua, he irirangi tēnā (W 1971:80). / If we sing inside the house and a voice is heard singing outside, which is a spirit voice, that is 'irirangi'.

Show example

Hide example


4. (noun) radio wave.

Mehemea ka waiata tātou ki roto i te whare, ā ka rangona te waha e waiata ana i waho, he waha wairua, he irirangi tēnā (W 1971:80). / If we sing inside the house and the voice is heard outside that is a spirit voice.

Show example

Hide example

See also reo irirangi

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