Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

ngaki

1. (verb) (-a,-na) to clear (weeds), weed, cultivate, plant.

Ka ngakia ngā taru, ko te ingoa o tērā mahi he ngaki tōtō (W 1971:428). / The weeds are cleared and the name of that task is 'ngaki tōtō'.

Show example

Hide example


2. (verb) (-a,-na) to avenge, take revenge, take vengeance.

Ka ngakia tērā mate, ka hinga a Ngāti Rangiwewehi (TTR 1990:9). / That death was avenged when Ngāti Rangiwewehi were defeated.

Show example

Hide example


3. (verb) (-a,-tia) to apply oneself to, occupy oneself intently with, strive for, make every effort, endeavour, take advantage of enthusiastically.

I ngā tekau tau atu i 1870 i kaha ake te whakawhānui haere mai o te mahi tūruhi, ā, ngakia ake ana te manawareka o te hunga whakaeke e mīharo nei ki te taiao (TTR 1996:230). / During the 1870s, tourism expanded rapidly with local Māori enthusiastically taking advantage of the interest shown by visitors in their natural environment.

Show example

Hide example


4. (modifier) weeding, cultivating, planting.

Kātahi ka whakawhiti taonga a Te Mātenga rāua ko Turikatuku: ka riro i a Turikatuku he hetiheti rino, ka hoatu ki a Te Mātenga te kō ngaki māra a Turikatuku (TTR 1990:378). / Then Marsden and Turikatuku exchanged tools: Turikatuku received an iron hoe and Marsden was given Turikatuku's garden cultivation tool.

Show example

Hide example


5. (modifier) vengeful, retaliatory, revengeful.

Kua mate noa ake au i te aroha ki a Puhihuia. Engari, ki te mea ka riro ia i a au ka waiho hei take ngaki mate mō tātou. He puhi ia, he tapu hoki (TWK 2:26). / I am deeply in love with Puhihuia. But if I take her it will become a matter of revenge against us. She is a puhi and is tapu.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: rautipu


6. (noun) weeding, cultivating, clearing.

Tīhema. Ko ngā mahi mō tēnei marama, rite tahi ana ki ō tērā kua pahemo atu rā, arā, te mahi kāri, te whakatō purapura, te ngaki otaota, te hanga taiepa, te kāta rākau, te waruwaru i ngā hipi, me te whakamaroke i ngā tarutaru hei kai mā te hōiho (TKM.MM 16/12/1861:20). / December. The work for this month is the same as that for the one just passed, that is, working the garden, planting out seeds, weeding, erecting fences, carting wood, shearing the sheep, and making hay as food for the horses.

Show example

Hide example


7. (noun) revenge, vengeance, retaliation, reprisal, retribution.

Ka whānau rā tana tamaiti i huaina nei ko Tūwhakairiora, i tohia nei, mai rānō i tōna kopū, mō te ngaki i te mate o tana pāpā, o Poroumātā (RK 1994:160). / When her son was born he was named Tūwhakairiora, who was dedicated from the time he was in her womb to the vengeance of the death of her father, Poroumātā.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: ngakinga, rautipu, utu, rautupu, whakakaitoa, uto, utunga, whakarite

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