Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

māngai

1. (noun) mouth.

Kātahi ra anō ka hamumu atu te māngai o tuawahine ki te kuia raka, ka mea atu ia, "Kei whea koia te kāinga o Te Whatuiāpiti?" (NM 1928:138). / Then finally our heroine spoke to that elderly woman and she asked, "Just where is Te Whatuiāpiti's home?"

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tametame, waha, kūwaha


2. (noun) spokesperson, speaker, representative, orator, agent, delegate, consul.

Ahakoa ana kupu whakatītina mai i mōhio tonu au e kore au e kaha, nō reira noho ana ko ia hei māngai mō mātou o tō mātou nā tira (HM 4/2009:1). / Despite his words of encouragement I knew I would not be able to, and so he remained as orator for us and our party.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: manu kōrero, wahapū, pūkōrero, kākā tarahae, kaiwhakarite, repe, taraketi, reo kōrero


3. (noun) muzzle, barrel (of a gun).

Na, kātahi au ka whai haere i te manu, ka tuki ki te raparapa o taku pū, ko taku ringa katau i runga i te māngai o te pū, ko te kōroa me te māpere i roto i ngā māngai o te pū. He tūpara hou tonu te pū nei. Kātahi ka rāoa te keu. Ka oho te pū, ka pakū, me te māpere o te ringa katau, riro atu! (TAH 63:8). / Then I pursued the bird, striking at it with the butt of my gun, my right hand over the muzzle of the gun, the first and second fingers inside the barrels. The gun was a new double-barrelled one. Then the trigger caught against something. The gun discharged and blew the second finger of my right hand clean off!

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: arahāmoa, ngutu

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