Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

noa

1. (particle) only, solely, just, merely, quite, until, at random, idly, fruitlessly, in vain, as soon as, without restraint, freely, unimpeded, unbridled, casually, easily, without any fuss, suddenly, unexpectedly, spontaneously, instinctively, intuitively, by accident, unintentionally, without restriction, without conditions, randomly, without knowing why, to no avail, for no good reason, very, exceedingly, absolutely, already, right up until - a manner particle following immediately after the word it relates to. Denotes an absence of limitations or conditions. Often occurs in combination with other particles, e.g. noa iho. Where noa follows a verb in the passive it will take a passive ending also, usually -tiaAs with other manner particles in Māori, while having a general overall meaning, noa can be translated in a variety of ways, depending on the context.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 91-92;)

Tekau mita noa pea hei omanga māku. / I probably had only 10 metres to run.
He nui ngā whenua i tukua noatia, i hokona rānei e Kahutia ki ngā tāngata whai me te kāwanatanga (TTR 1994:33). / Kahutia had given and sold considerable areas of land to settlers and the government.
Tēnei hoki tētahi minita Pākehā kei konei, i mate tana mokopuna, kawea ana ki te nehu, ā, i tīmata anō ia i te karakia nehu. Nō te tukunga iho ki te poka oma ana ia, kīhai i mutu tana karakia nehu, ā, tanumia noatia iho e ngā tāngata hāpai (TWMNT 13/3/1877:76). / And then there was a Pākehā minister here whose grandchild died and when she was taken to the burial he began the burial service. When she was being lowered into the grave he fled without finishing his burial service and she was just buried by the pallbearers without ceremony.

Show example

Hide example

See also noa ake, noa atu, noa iho

Synonyms: ā, anake, anahe, nahe, matapōkere, ia, ia rā, heipū, mārie, mārika, mārire, hengahenga, kāhua, (ko) tōna ... (nei), kau, koia, rawa, āhua, anō, tino, kere, āta, hangehange, ake, tata, tika, noa iho, tou, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu


2. (verb) to be free from the extensions of tapu, ordinary, unrestricted, void.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 237-240; Te Kōhure Video Tapes (Ed. 1): 6;)

Puta mai ai te tangata i te urupā, me tāuhi ia i ōna ringaringa me tōna upoko ki te wai kia noa ai ia. / When a person comes out of a cemetery he/she should sprinkle water on his/her hands and head so that she/he is freed from tapu.

Show example

Hide example

See also tapu, rāhui, whakanoa

Synonyms: māori, kai parāoa, kaipaipa, kai paipa

Te Kākano 3rd Edition

New edition of the leading Māori-language textbook out now.

More info

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