Vocabulary for a lesson

1. a — [a name follows] | Not translatable into an English word; nominal particle, used before names and pronouns: a Mere, a kōrua, a ia.

2. aha — what

3. ahau — I, me

4. ai — Not translatable into an English word; verbal particle; used in various subordinate structures, for example relative clauses, adverbials, ...ai

5. ake, ake, ake — for ever and ever

6. ana — indeed, when, if

7. anō — again, also (Various meanings, eg again; also, too; self [reflexive] as in: ki a ia anō)

8. atu — away from current orientation (often not translatable by a separate English word)

9. au — I, me

10. e — by; of course; a term of address follows; [in the future]; particle used in a negation

11. ehara — exclamation: sure enough, without a doubt; not

12. haere — go, come

13. harikoa — happy, joyful, euphoric

14. he — a, some; in the category of

15. hei — at, in, with, for, to, as a; hay; necklace (Various meanings, eg future preposition)

16. hiahia — to want

17. hiainu — thirst, thirsty

18. hiamoe — sleepy

19. hipi — sheep

20. hoa — friend; partner; spouse

21. hoki — to go back, return; also, indeed

22. i — object of the sentence, from; concerning; in; in the past; on; → | Several uses; not always translatable with a specific English word. Past tense verb particle: I haere ia ... She went Past time marker: I tērā wiki ... Last week Direct object marker: Ka kai ia i te āporo. Source marker (from): Kua hoki mai au i te kura.

23. iho — downwards

24. iti — small, little

25. ka — will happen | Verbal particle with a range of meanings; not directly translated with an English word

26. kaha — strong, able

27. kai — eat (v); food (n)

28. katoa — all

29. kei — Various uses, meanings, eg: preposition, present time and place location; at the moment; it might be that...

30. kei te — at the moment; now

31. keke — cake

32. ki — to, at, →; | Has various uses and meanings

33. kia — may you be; may we be; let it be that; | Various uses, meanings. Often not translatable by an English word.

34. ko — is, are (Various uses; not usually translatable with an English word), [equals], [topic marker]

35. koe — you, one person

36. koutou — you, three or more people

37. kua — then; have; has; had | Verbal particle; indicating completed action or movement into a state

38. kurī — dog

39. kēkē — armpit

40. kōrero — to talk, speak

41. mahi — to do, work, make

42. mai — towards the speaker in space or in orientation; to here

43. mate — to be sick, ill, dead

44. matekai — hungry, starving

45. me — and, should, with (various meanings, uses, eg with, like, should)

46. mea — a thing (n); to say (v)

47. mere — bush, shrub

48. mā — clean, white, and others

49. mākū — to be saturated, wet, damp

50. mātou — we, us (three or more people, excluding the person/ people addressed)

51. nei — here, by speaker

52. ngā — the, plural

53. noho — to live; sit

54. nui — big, great, many

55. nā — Various meanings, eg by, belonging to (ā category), by way of

56. nō — from

57. o — of, belonging to | Has several uses

58. oma — to run, escape

59. ora — alive, well, healthy, safe

60. pai — good (adj); to like (v); good

61. pēhea — how?

62. pōuri — sad, dark

63. rangi — sky, day

64. riri — anger, angry

65. rā — day; the sun; over there

66. rātou — they, them, three or more people

67. rāua — them; they (two people)

68. tamariki — children

69. tangata — person

70. tangi — to cry; to make a sound

71. te — the, singular definite article

72. tino — very

73. tāne — man, male

74. tāngata — people (plural of tangata)

75. tātou — we, us, inclusive, three or more people

76. tēnei — this (by speaker); this is; this

77. tēnā — that, by the listener

78. tērā — that over there, that

79. tō — your (singular); to drag

80. tōku — my (singular)

81. wahine — woman, wife

82. wai — water; who

83. waiata — to sing (v); song (n)

84. wera — to burn; burnt; hot, heat

85. whare — house, building

86. wāhine — women, wives (plural form of wahine)

87. ā — and; and then

88. āhua — shape, form, appearance

89. ātaahua — beautiful, well formed

Vocabulary for a lesson

Māori Flash Cards