Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whakaahua

1. (verb) (-tia) to acquire form, transform.

Kātahi ka whakaahua i a ia ki te kererū (JPS 1901:14). / Then he transformed himself into a pigeon.

Show example

Hide example


2. (verb) (-tia) to form, fashion.

Ka haere a Tāne, whakaahua i te oneone, he wahine māhana. Ko Hinehaone te ingoa o taua wahine (Tr 1874:34). / Tāne went off and from the earth he formed a woman for himself. That woman was Hinehaone.

Show example

Hide example


3. (verb) (-tia) to photograph, portray, film.

Kātahi ka mea mai me mau e au ki te nūpepa o Taupō kia whakaahuatia (HP 1991:308). / Then it was decided that I should take it to Taupō's newspaper to be photographed.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: whakaahuatanga


4. (noun) photograph, illustration, portrait, picture, image, shot (photograph), photocopy.

Ko te whakaahua kei runga tonu ake o taua ingoa he tangata mangumangu kei roto i te tāpu wai. E rua ngā Pākehā kei te horoi i a ia ki te paraihe, ki te hopi (TTT 1/10/1921:5). / The illustration just above that name is of a black person in a bathtub. There are two Pākehā washing him with brushes and soap.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kape, pikitia


5. (noun) design.

Kei te poraka e mau ana te moko o te Taura Whiri (arā, ki te uma (taha mauī), he whakaahua paku noa iho), ā, kei te angaangamate ko te moko whakanui i te Tau o te Reo Māori (HM 4/1994:12). / On the sweatshirt is the logo of the Māori Language Commission (that is on the chest (left side), just a small design), and on the reverse side is the logo celebrating the Year of the Māori Language.

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