Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

pākorehā

1. (verb) to be destitute, not a thing, nothing at all, absolutely nothing, zilch, not a sausage, nobody.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 220;)

Hei Te Aute rawa hanga whakaaro ai te tamaiti mō tana mahi tūturu, heoi ki te kore ia e whakaakona ki ngā painga o te ahuwhenua, e kore tōna ngākau e ahu whakatewhenua, engari ka kotiti kē ki ngā mahi huhua a te Pākehā, ā, ko te tukunga iho he pākorehā (TP 8/1908:2). / At Te Aute the boy develops ideas about his career, so if he is not taught the benefits of agriculture he will not consider the land, but will go off to the many jobs of the Pākehā, and the result is that there's nobody.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kore, kāore he aha, korekore ana (nei), he paku aha nei, korekore, kāore he tangata, ware, kore noa iho


2. (interjection) not a thing, nothing at all, absolutely nothing, zilch, not a sausage, nobody.

Ka puta anō te whakahau, "Pupuhi, tekau ngā matā. Kia teretere tonu." Arā, i pērā anō. Pākorehā (HP 1991:114). / The command came again, "Fire, ten rounds. Quickly." And so that was done. Not one hit home.

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