Maori (Māori)

travel phpto to inspire Maori language study
Māori performing a haka. DoD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo, Public Domain

ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Why Learn Maori?

Māori is an Eastern Polynesian language spoken by about 149,000 Māori people, the indigenous population of New Zealand.

International travel is made easier and more pleasant when you know Maori. Adding Maori language skills to your business skills make you a more valuable an employee in the marketplace. Creativity is increased with the study of Maori. Maori expand one's world view and limit the barriers between people: barriers cause distrust and fear.

Maori Alphabet & Pronunciation

The modern Māori alphabet has 15 letters, two of which are digraphs. Macrons are the standard means of indicating long vowels.

A a
(a)
Ā ā
(ā)
E e
(e)
Ē ē
(ē)
H h
(ha)
Ī ī
(ī)
I i
(i)
K k
(ka)
M m
(ma)
N n
(na)
NG ng
(nga)
O o
(o)
Ō ō
(ō)
P p
(pa)
R r
(ra)
T t
(ta)
U u
(u)
Ū ū
(ū)
W w
(wa)
WH wh
(wha)

Basic Phrases in Maori

HelloKia ora
GoodbyeKia koa
Yesāe
NoKāo
Excuse meWhakarerea
PleaseTēnā
Thank youKia mihi
You are welcome'Nau mai
Do you speak englishE korero koe i te reo Ingarihi?
Do you understandTe maarama ra koe?
I understandKei te marama ahau
I do not understandKaore au e marama
How are youKei te pēhea koe?
Fine thanksPai, whakawhetai!
What is your nameKo wai tou ingoa?
My name isKoaku toku ingoa
Pleased to meet youKa pai te whakatau ia koe

Maori Grammar

Maori Nouns

ManTangata
WomanWahine
BoyTama
GirlHe kotiro
CatNgeru
DogKurī
FishIka
WaterWai
MilkTe waiu
EggHua manu
HouseWhare
FlowerPuawai
TreeRakau
ShirtKoti
PantsHake

Maori Adjectives

Colors in Maori

BlackPango
WhiteMa
RedWhero
OrangeKaraka
YellowKowhai
GreenKākāriki
BlueKikorangi
PurplePapura
PinkMāwhero
GrayHina
BrownParauri

Numbers in Maori

ZeroMea kore
OneKotahi
TwoTokorua
ThreeToru
FourE wha
FiveE rima
SixOno
SevenE whitu
EightE waru
NineNine
TenTekau (Ptekau)
ElevenKotahi tekau mā tahi
TwelveTekau ma rua
TwentyRua tekau
ThirtyToru tekau
FortyE wha tekau
FiftyRima tekau
SixtyOno tekau
SeventyWhitu tekau
EightyWaru tekau
NinetyIwa tekau
HundredRau
ThousandMano

Maori Verbs

To beKia
To haveKi te
To wantKi te hiahia
To needKi te hiahia
To helpKia awhinatia
To goKi te haere
To comeHaere mai
To eatKi te kai
To drinkHei inu
To speakKi te korero

Building Simple Sentences

More Complex Maori Sentences

AndMe ngā
OrRanei
ButEngari
BecauseNa te mea
WithMe
AlsoAno hoki
HoweverHeoi
NeitherAno hoki
NorE kore hoki
IfKi te
ThenNo reira

Useful Maori Vocabulary

Maori Questions

WhoNei
WhatAha
WhenAna
WhereHea
WhyAha
HowMe pehea
How manyHia
How muchHia

Days of the Week in Maori

MondayRāhina
TuesdayRātū
WednesdayRāapa
ThursdayRāpare
FridayRāmere
SaturdayRāhoroi
SundayRātapu
YesterdayInanahi
TodayInanahi
Tomorrowāpōpō

Months in Maori

JanuaryKohi-tātea
FebruaryHui-tanguru
MarchPoutū-te-rangi
AprilPaenga-whāwhā
MayHaratua
JunePipiri
JulyHōngongoi
AugustHere-turi-kōkā
SeptemberMahuru
OctoberOketopa
NovemberWhiringa-ā-rangi
DecemberHakihea

Seasons in Maori

WinterHotoke
SpringPuna
SummerRaumati
AutumnNgahuru

Telling Time in Maori

What time is itMai te aha te taime?
HoursHaora
MinutesMeneti
SecondsHēkona
O clockHaora
HalfHawhe
Quarter pastTuhinga o mua
BeforeTuhinga o mua
AfterI muri