Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

tahi

1. (numeral) one, single, 1 - as in counting out things, in which case each number is preceded by ka.

Ka tīmata te tatau, "Ka tahi, ka rua, ka toru, ka whā, ka rima, ka ono, ka whitu, ka waru, ka iwa." (NM 1928:359). / She began counting them, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine."

Show example

Hide example

See also tuatahi

Synonyms: kōtahitahi, tētehi, tētahi, tapatahi, takitahi, takakau, mea, tōtahi, kotahi


2. (numeral) firstly, first of all - when preceded by ka.

Tono rawa ia kia whakaaetia te wahine kia pōti ka tahi; ka rua, i tono hoki ia kia tū hoki he mema wāhine ki roto i te Pāremata Māori (TTR 1994:54). / She requested not only that women be given the vote, but that they be eligible to sit as women members in the Māori parliament.

Show example

Hide example


3. (numeral) first, 1st - when used with this meaning it is preceded by te and followed by o.

E rua anō ngā rā nui o te tau o te Ringatū i hiwaia e ia, arā, ko te huamata i te tahi o Hune me te pure i te tahi o Noema (TTR 1998:27). / There were two special days in the Ringatū year on which he focused, namely, the planting rites (huamata) on the first day of June, and the harvest rite (pure) on the first day of November.

Show example

Hide example


4. one ... the other, each - when repeated.

Kitea te nui o te aurei, o te kuru pounamu ki runga ki te pakihiwi o Tapuae, te here o ngā kākahu o te māhiti, me te wahine a Tapuae, he wahine rangatira hoki, he kākahu kiwi te kākahu, me ngā kōtore huia te rākai ki tahi taha, ki tahi taha, o te māhuna, ko te tiki ki te poho, ko ngā tautau tongarerewa ki tahi pakihiwi, ki tahi (TP 9/1908:3). / An abundance of ivory pins and greenstone ornaments could be seen on Tapuae's shoulder, fastening his garments and his māhiti. His wife too, a well-born woman, was wearing a kiwi cloak, with tail feathers of the huia adorning both sides of her head, a tiki on her breast, and quite a cluster of greenstone drops on each shoulder.

Show example

Hide example


5. (modifier) together, simultaneously, as one, in unison, at the same time, concurrently, both, all - indicates that two or more things are happening or being affected by something at the same time.

Ki te kai te wahine hapū i te hikareti, ka kai tahi te pēpe e noho ake rā i roto i a ia (TP 1/1908:4). / If a pregnant woman smokes cigarettes, the baby that is inside her partakes too.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: ngātahi, ngātatahi


6. (modifier) actually, no less, absolutely - used after a word to intensify or to add emphasis.

Erangi, kātahi au ka whāki tahi i aua kupu tahi, “Kāore anō he iwi e toitū nei mō tēnei ao.” (JPS 1990:155). / But, then I actually revealed those very words, “There is not yet an undefeated tribe in this world.”
Kei te kaikā rawa ngā taitamariki ki te whakawātea i ngā tēpu. Kāore tahi anō i mutu taku kai, ka kawea taku pereti (HJ 2015:110). / The young people are too eager to clear the tables. I had not even finished my meal when my plate was taken away.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: hāwerewere, ehara ehara, mārie, rukaruka, , anō, moruka, te mutunga (kē) mai (nei) o te ..., mārika, mōrukaruka, mārire, pohapoha, puru, piropiro

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