Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

nawa

1. (verb) (-ia) to be distant.

E anga tō mata ki te ao o te tonga, ki te ara haerenga o tō tupuna kua nawaia i ngā rangi nā (G 1853:17). / Turn your face to the world of the south, to the path travelled by your ancestor who has been removed to a distance in those days.

Show example

Hide example


2. (modifier) distant, remote, far-off.

He whenua nawa - tekau mā ono hāora i te waka rererangi e tae atu ai (PK 2008:493). / A distant land - reached after sixteen hours on a plane.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tawhiti, pāmamao, kōkēi


3. (interjection) used at the end of stanzas with no apparent meaning, often in the forms i nawa, mā nawa, mau nawa, kai mau nawa.

Kaea: Auē! Nō wai te motokā e topa mai ngā rori? Katoa: Auē! Nōu nei Kāwana tika mai nei tāua, i nawa! (VC 1943:8). / Leader: Whose is the motor car speeding hither along the highway? All: It is thine, O Governor, coming direct to me (VC 1943:9).

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