Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

pōwhiri

1. (verb) (-a,-tia) to welcome, invite, beckon, wave.

He tini ngā marae i pōwhiritia rātou (TTR 1996:62). / They were welcomed onto many marae.

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) invitation, rituals of encounter, welcome ceremony on a marae, welcome.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 122-138; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 197-205;)

Ka rewa taua ope nei, ā, tae atu ki Horowhenua; ka pā te pōwhiri a te tangata whenua (JPS 1901:74). / So the flock set off, and reached Horowhenua, where the people of the place welcomed them.

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) kōhūhū, Pittosporum tenuifolium - a small native black-barked tree of lowland forest and scrub, having light green leaves with a wavy margin. Commonly cultivated for hedges.

Take a photo, learn a language

Discover te reo Māori words with Kupu, a simple way to explore language through the world around you. Just take a photo of an object with your phone and Kupu will provide Māori translation options, helping you discover new words wherever you go.

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