2. (modifier) false, untrue, fake, insincere, deceitful.
Ko rāua mārire hoki ngā tāngata pākiwaha i kōrero whakakake noa, rūpahu noa (TWMNT 21/5/1879:422). / And they are the boastful people who spoke with assumed superiority and deceit.
He pai nōna, he aroha, he atawhai, he hūmārie, he pono nō āna kōrero. Kāore ana kōrero whakapatipati, kāore he kōrero rūpahu (TTT 1/6/1925:239). / His good qualities were of compassion, generosity, affability and speaking the truth. He did not flatter or tell lies.
3. (noun) lie, fabrication, person who tells lies, propaganda.
Ka mea te iwi katoa kua kite nei i te tere o Hotunui ki te kupenga, ka mea “E pai ana kia karangatia. Ākuanei he rūpahu noa iho nā taua tangata.” (JPS 1941:128). / The people all said that they had witnessed the speed of Hotunui in net-weaving and said, “It is well that he be invited. Perhaps it is just lies on the part of that man.”
Synonyms: kēā, papahu, tahupera, rūkahu, whakateka, teka, tito, tipatipa, tīpapa, kōrero teka, kōrero parau, horihori, hori, pūkei, takoto, hāwatewate, pūkai, paraparau, patu taringa
