a - Te Aka Māori Dictionary

a

1. (particle) Used before people's - names, wai, mea and personified objects when they stand as the subject of the sentence and when they follow i, ki, hei and kei.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 13, 57, 83, 102; Te Kākano Study Guide (Ed. 1): 25;)

Kua riro te paoro i a Māia. / Māia has taken the ball.

Show example

Hide example

2. (particle) Used before personal pronouns (except ahau) when they follow i, ki, hei and kei. NB a is pronounced long before koe and ia.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 57, 83, 102;)

Kua mau te tuna i a ia. / She has caught the eel.

Show example

Hide example

3. (particle) Used before place names and location words when they stand as subject of the sentence.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 24-25;)

He wera a waho. / It's hot outside.

Show example

Hide example

4. (particle) Sometimes used as a literary device before words that would normally be used as nouns or verbs.

Kāti, kua huri te ihu o tōu ake waka ki Waitematā i runga anō i te āki a rūrūtake, a wheori (HM 2/1992:1). / Well, the prow of your canoe has turned towards Waitematā because of the urging of shaking and quivering of old age.

Show example

Hide example

a

New favourites & quiz!

New favourites & quiz!

The App

The Book

He Pātaka Kupu