Glossary of Common Mäori Words
Here is a list of Mäori words that you are likely to come across and their meanings:
Aotearoa |
Land of the long white cloud (the Mäori name for New Zealand) |
Haere mai |
Welcome |
Haere rä |
Goodbye |
Hangi |
Traditional way of cooking food, where the food is cooked in the ground |
Hongi |
To press noses, a formal greeting |
Hui |
Meeting to discuss a special topic |
Iwi |
Tribal people |
Kai |
Food |
Ka pai |
Good |
Kia ora |
Mäori greeting, also used as an expression of gratitude and agreement |
Mana |
Prestige, authority, status |
Marae |
A Mäori communal facility (generally consisting of a meeting house, dining hall, kitchen, and ablution area) |
Me |
And |
Mihimihi |
Greeting |
Pakeha |
The Mäori word for non-Mäori people |
Rangatira |
High-ranking person |
Reo |
Language |
Tamariki |
Children |
Tängata whenua |
(local) people of the land |
Tangi |
Funeral |
Taonga |
Values (spiritual, personal) and physical treasures |
Tapu |
Sacred |
Tënä koe |
How do you do? |
Te reo |
The language (Mäori) |
Tiriti |
Treaty |
Waka |
Canoe, vessel |
Wänanga |
University |
Whänau |
Family |
Whare |
House, meeting house on a marae |
Whenua |
Land |
