Māori word of the day › By topic
Māori greetings and welcomes
12 Māori words and phrases, each with its meaning and a real sentence that uses it. Each one has its own page with its reading and where to read it in a story.
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good morning
Mōrena! Kei te hiahia koe ki te kawhe wera?
Good morning! Would you like a hot coffee?
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hello / hi / thank you
Kia ora mō tō arataki i a māua.
Thank you for guiding us two.
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greetings to you (1 person)
Kei te pai, tēnā koe.
I am well, thank you.
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greetings to you both
Tēnā kōrua, e ngā kaumātua, haere mai ki roto.
Greetings to you two elders, come inside.
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greetings to you all (3+)
Tēnā koutou, e te whānau.
Greetings, family.
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the marae / communal complex
Ko taku wā tuatahi tēnei hei manuhiri ki tētahi marae.
This is my first time as a guest at a marae.
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the meeting house
I muri mai i te hākari nui, ka haere te katoa ki roto i te wharenui.
After the grand feast, everyone went inside the meeting house.
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welcome to the marae
Nau mai ki te marae, e ngā manuhiri, haere mai ki roto.
Welcome to the marae, visitors, come inside.
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welcome visitors / host guests
Kei te takatū te iwi ki te whakatau manuhiri i tēnei ata.
The tribe is preparing to welcome visitors this morning.
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how are you, grandmother?
Kei te pēhea koe, e kui? Kua takatū te kapu tī māu.
How are you, grandmother? A cup of tea has been prepared for you.
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how are you, grandfather?
Kei te pēhea koe, e koro? Kei te hiahia koe ki te noho ki te mahau?
How are you, grandfather? Would you like to sit on the veranda?
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how are you, mother/aunt?
Kei te pēhea koe, e whaea? Kei te pūmau tonu koe ki te mahi i te māra?
How are you, auntie? Are you still hard at work in the garden?