Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whakatuatea

1. (verb) to grow anxious, be fearful, worry.

E whakatuatea ana ahau ki te mate o taku tamaiti (W 1971:447). / I am anxious about the illness of my child.

Show example

Hide example


2. (verb) to terrify, frighten.

Ki te kore e parea atu ēnei nuka a tērā o ngā reo, ka ngaro haere ngā whakatakoto Māori taketake ake, ā, ka rite te āhua o te reo Māori ki tō te reo Pākehā; ko ngā kupu noa iho ka āhua Māori mai. Whakatuatea ana tērā (HM 2/1994:9). / If these devices of that other language are not avoided, the genuine Māori phrasing will disappear and the nature of the Māori language will become like that of the English language; only the words will be Māori. That's frightening.

Show example

Hide example


3. (modifier) terrifying, terrorism, fearful.

Kua hīkina ngā whakapae whakatuatea i ngā pokohiwi o ngā tāngata tekau mā toru. / The terrorism charges on the shoulders of the thirteen people have been lifted.

Show example

Hide example


4. (noun) terror, terrorism.

Kua tukuna ngā tāngata tekau mā rima e whakapaetia nei mō te whakatuatea ki te kōti matua o te motu. / The fifteen people accused of terrorism have been sent to the country's supreme court.

Show example

Hide example


5. (noun) awe-inspiring leader, sage, mystic - a leader who, because of his great mana, is feared and respected.

I puta anō i ngā whārangi o tā Kere Nikora pukapuka ngā kupu whakanui mō Tāwhiao, mō Tōpia Tūroa, mō Meiha Te Wheoro, mō Pēhi Tūroa me ērā atu whakatuatea o te motu nei (KO 15/10/1884:5). / Words honouring Tāwhiao, Tōpia Tūroa, Major Te Wheoro, Pēhi Tūroa and other awe-inspiring leaders also appeared in the pages of Kerry Nicholls's book.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: ruānuku, hīnātore, mātauranga, wānanga

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