MĀORI PRONUNCIATION
The Māori alphabet
The Māori alphabet is made up of ten consonant and five vowels.
What are the lines above the letters?
The lines are called macrons, they indicate how a vowel is pronounced.
R Commonly called a ‘rolled’ r. If you’re able to imitate the purring sound of a cat, you’ll know exactly what’s required to pronounce this consonant. Failing this, the sound you should aim for is something similar to an English ‘d’ – but softer e.g. judder.
Digraphs – ‘wh’ and ‘ng’
Wh – pronounced like ‘f’
Ng – like ‘ng’ in singer
Dipthongs – Blended Vowels
Often seen in te reo Māori. The easiest way to learn them is to pronounce each vowel separately to begin with and then slide them together.
Pronunciation Practice Links
Pronunciation Practice Links
Pūrārangi Māori
Click on the image below to go to the page where you practice the pronunciation of vowels and consonants. Clicking on each button will let you hear how each of them is pronounced and you can try to copy.
Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index
Correct pronunciation indicates bicultural awareness and respect for Māori culture. If you’re unsure how to pronounce a word, you can go to the Māori Dictionary online, type in the word and then click on the speaker icon next to the word to hear it.
VOCABULARY
Kupu Karaitiana
Christian words
Jesus Christ – Ihu Karaiti OR Hehu Karaiti
God – Te Atua
GOD – Ihowā
Holy Spirit – Wairua Tapu
Bible – Paipera Tapu
Old Testament – Kawenata Tawhito
New Testament – Kawenata Hou
Cross/Crucifixion – Rīpeka
Pray – īnoi
Faith – Whakapono
Church – Hāhi
Anglican Church – Hāhi Mihinare
Catholic Church – Hāhi Katorika
Salvation Army – Ope Whakaora
Congregational Church – Hāhi Whakaminenga
Methodist Church – Hāhi Weteriana
Presbyterian Church – Hāhi Perehipitiriana
NGĀ MIHI
Greetings
Kia ora – Hello/Thank you
Tēnā koe – Formal greeting to one person
Tēna kōrua – Formal greeting to two people
Tēna koutou – Formal greeting to many people
E noho rā – Goodbye (from a person leaving)
Haere rā- Goodbye (from a person staying)
Hei konei rā – Goodbye (less formal)
Ka kite anō – See you again (informal goodbye)
Mōrena – Good morning
Ata Mārie – Good morning
Pō Mārie – Good night
Haere mai – Welcome, come in, enter
Nau mai – Welcome
Ngā mihi nui – With best wishes
OTHER USEFUL KUPU (WORDS)
General words
Āe – Yes
Kā – No
Aua – Not sure / I don’t know
Rā – Day/Sun
Paipera Tapu – Bible
Pō – Night/Darkness
Whānau – Extended Family
Hapū – Group of whānau descended from same ancestor
Iwi – Tribe, nation
Kaumātau – Male or female elder(s)
Whakapapa – Genealogy
E tū – Stand up
E moe – Go to sleep
E kai – Eat up
Whakarongo – Listen
Titiro – Look
Turituri – Be quiet
Kāti – Stop
Taihoa – Wait
Kia tūpato – Be careful
Kia kaha – Be Strong
KUPU Māori
for the workplace
Mahi – Work
Hoa Mahi – Colleague
Kaimahi – Worker
Kōnae – File
Ipurangi – Internet
Rorohiko – Computer
Īmēra – Email
Hui – Meeting
Tupaepae. -Reception
Hararei – Holiday
Rīpoata – Report
Kaitahi – Shared Lunch
Kaihwakaharere – Manager
Greetings for Letters and Emails
Formal letter or Email:
| Tēnā koe (Name) | Dear (Name) — greeting one person |
| Tēnā kōrua | Greeting two people. (Don’t insert the names.) |
| Tēnā koutou | Greeting three or more people |
| Kei te rangatira, tēnā koe (very formal) | Dear Sir/Madam |
Informal letter or Email:
(Note: kia ora can mean hello, good morning, good afternoon and thank you)
| Kia ora | Hello to any number of people |
| Kia ora kōrua | Hello to two people |
| Kia ora koutou | Hello to three or more people |
| Mōrena or Ata mārie | Good morning |
Blessings
| Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koe | Peace be with you |
| Mā te Atua koutou katoa e tiaki, e manaaki | May God protect and care for you all |
| Mā te Atua koe e manaaki | May God bless you |
| Ngā manaakitanga | Blessings |
Signoffs
| Nā | From |
| Nāku, nā | Yours faithfully |
| Nāku iti noa, nā | Yours sincerely |
| Ngā mihi | Kind regards or thank you |
| Ngā mihi nui | Kind regards (with more emphasis on gratitude) |
| Hei konā mai | Goodbye for now |
| Mā te wā | Bye for now, see you later |
| Noho ora mai | Stay well, look after yourself, good bye |
| Kia pai tō rā | Have a nice day |
| Kia pai tō rā whakatā | Have a great weekend! |
| Hei āpōpō | See you tomorrow |
Other
| Ngā mihi | Thank you |
| Ngā mihi nui | Thank you very much |
| Ngā mihi maioha | Thank you with appreciation |
| Aroha mai | Sorry, I’m sorry, my apologies |
Christmas
| Meri Kirihimete | Merry Christmas |
| Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou | Season’s greetings for Christmas and the New Year |
| Ngā mihi o te te Kirihimete ki a koe/kōrua/koutou | Greetings of the Christmas Season to you (1 person), you (2 people), you (3 or more people) |
Īnoi/Karakia - Prayers
He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua.
He maungārongo ki te whenua.
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa.
Hangā e te Atua he ngākau hou.
Ki roto, ki tēnā, ki tēnā o mātou.
Whakatōngia to wairua tapu
Hei awhina, hei tohutohu i a mātou.
Hei ako hoki i ngā mahi mō tēnei rā
Āmine
Honour and glory to God.
Peace on Earth.
Goodwill to all people.
Lord, develop a new heart
Inside all of us.
Instill in us your sacred spirit
Help us, guide us.
In all the things we need to learn today.
Amen
Opening karakia
E te Atua
Manaakitia mātou
Arahina mātou
i ā mātou mahi
i tēnei rā
i runga i tōu ingoa tapu
Āmine
Oh God
Bless us together
Help us through
our work
this day
on your holy name
Amen
Closing prayer (the Benediction)
Kia tau ki a tātou katoa
te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, a Ihu Karaiti,
Me te aroha o te Atua
Me te whi/whi/nga/tahi/tanga ki te Wairua Tapu
Ake ake ake
Āmine
Grace
E te Atua
Whakapainga ēnei kai
Hei oranga mō ō mātou tinana
Whāngaia hoki ō mātou wairua ki te
taro o te ora
Ko Ihu Karaiti tō mātou Ariki
Ake, ake, ake
Āmine
Lord God
Bless this food
or the goodness of our bodies
Feeding our spiritual needs also with the bread of life
Jesus Christ, our Lord
Forever and ever
Amen
Waiata
Purea Nei
Purea nei e te hau
Horoia e te ua
Whitiwhitia e te rā
Mahea ake ngā pōraruraru
Makere ana ngā here
E rere, wairua e rere
Ki nga ao o te rangi-i-i
Whitiwhitia e te rā-a-a-a
Mahea ake ngā pōraruraru
Makere ana ngā here
Scattered by the wind
Cleansed by the rain
Uplifted by the sun
All doubts are lifted away
All restraints are cast off
Fly free, o spirit
Fly to the realms of the heavens
Uplifted by the sun
All doubts are lifted away
All restraints are cast off
He Hōnore
He hōnore, he korōria Maungārongo ki te whenua Whakaaro pai e
Ki ngā tangata katoa
Ake ake, ake ake
Āmine
Te Atua, te piringa,
Tōku oranga x 2
Honour and glory to God Peace throughout the land And goodwill
To all people
Forever and ever Amen
For it is God
Who is my refuge
My source of life
Tūtira mai ngā iwi
Tātou tātou e
Tūtira mai ngā iwi
Tātou tātou e
Whai-a te marama-tanga
me te aroha – e ngā iwi!
Ki-a ko tapa-tahi
Ki-a kotahi rā.
Tātou tātou e
Tātou, tātou e!!
Hi aue hī!
Line up together, people
All of us, all of us.
Stand in rows, people
All of us, all of us.
Seek after knowledge
and love of others – everybody!
Be really virtuous
And stay united.
All of us, all of us.
All of us, all of us!!
Hi aue hi!
| Australia – Ahitereiria |
| Scotland – Kōterani |
| England – Ingarani |
| Ireland – Airani |
| Germany – Tiamani |
| France – Wīwī |
| China – Haina |
| Samoa – Hāmoa |
| Viet Nam – Witināma |
| Russia – Ruhia |
| South Africa – Awherika ki te Tonga |
| Canada – Kānata |
| USA – Amerika |
| Poland – Pōrana |
| Pakistan – Pakitāni |
| Norway – Nōwei |
| Japan – Hapani |
| Iran – Irāna |
| India- Īnia |
| Philippines – Piripīni |
| Greece – Kirihi |
| Cook Islands – Kūku Airani |
| Fiji – Whītī |
| Argentina – Āketina |
| Switzerland – Huiterangi |
| Sri Lanka – Hīraka |
| The Netherlands – Hōrana |
te Reo Māori Resource Booklet
We have developed this fun interactive booklet to help you learn and practise te reo Māori. It includes Christian greetings, blessing and prayers you can learn to bless others with. Correct pronunciation indicates bicultural awareness and respect for the Māori culture. Learn, participate, grow and encourage interaction with the Bible in te reo Māori in Aotearoa.
Download your copy below.
He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua.
He maungārongo ki te whenua.
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa.
Hangā e te Atua he ngākau hou.
Ki roto, ki tēnā, ki tēnā o mātou.
Whakatōngia tō wairua tapu
Hei awhina, hei tohutohu i a mātou.
Hei ako hoki ngā mahi mō tēnei rā
Āmine
