Learn Maori ten words at a time
Te Reo Māori
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Maori words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Tēnā koeTAY-nah KWEH
- Hello
- MōrenaMOR-reh-nah
- Good morning
- Ahiahi māriea-hee-A-hee MAH-ree-eh
- Good evening
- E noho rāeh NOR-hor RAH
- Goodbye
- Ka kiteka KEE-teh
- See you
- Tēnā koaTAY-nah KOR-a
- Please
- Ngā mihingah MEE-hee
- Thank you
- Kāore he ahaKAH-oh-reh heh A-ha
- You're welcome
- Tōku hēTOR-koo HEH
- Sorry
- Aroha maia-ROH-ha MY
- Excuse me
- Ka pai te tūtaki ki a koeka PIE teh TOO-ta-kee kee a KWEH
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Kei te hiahia au ki...kay teh HEE-a-hee-a OH kee
- I would like...
- TēneiTAY-nay
- This one
- E hia te utu?eh HEE-a teh OO-too
- How much is it?
- Homai te pira, koaHOR-my teh PEE-ra, KOR-a
- The bill, please
- Mā te kāriMAH teh KAH-ree
- By card
- Mā te moni tūturuMAH teh MOR-nee TOO-too-roo
- In cash
- WaiWHY
- Water
- KawheKAH-feh
- Coffee
- Tītee
- Tea
- PiaPEE-a
- Beer
- Kāore he...KAH-oh-reh heh
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- ĀeAH-eh
- Yes
- KāoKAH-oh
- No
- Ka paika PIE
- Okay
- Kāore au i te māramaKAH-oh-reh OH ee teh MAH-ra-ma
- I don't understand
- Ka taea e koe te kōrero Pākehā?ka TYE-a eh KWEH teh KOR-reh-roh PAH-keh-hah
- Do you speak English?
- Kōrero anō, koaKOR-reh-ror a-NOR, KOR-a
- Can you repeat that?
- Āta kōrero, koaAH-ta KOR-reh-ror, KOR-a
- Slowly, please
- He aha tēnei?heh A-ha TAY-nay
- What is this?
- Me whai au i...meh FIE OH ee
- I need...
- Ka taea e koe te āwhina i ahau?ka TYE-a eh KWEH teh AH-fee-na ee a-HOH
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- TahiTA-hee
- One
- RuaROO-a
- Two
- ToruTOR-roo
- Three
- WhāFAH
- Four
- RimaREE-ma
- Five
- OnoOR-nor
- Six
- WhituFEE-too
- Seven
- WaruWA-roo
- Eight
- IwaEE-wa
- Nine
- TekauTEH-ko
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Kei a koe he...?kay a KWEH heh
- Do you have...?
- Kei hea te...?kay HEH-a teh
- Where is...?
- Tuwheratoo-FEH-ra
- Open
- KatiKA-tee
- Closed
- He pēke?heh PAY-keh
- A bag?
- He nui rawa te utuheh NOO-ee RA-wa teh OO-too
- Too expensive
- He tāpui tākuheh TAH-poo-ee TAH-koo
- I have a reservation
- Kei roto te parakuihi?kay ROR-tor teh pa-ra-KOO-ee-hee
- Is breakfast included?
- He aha te kupuhipa wifi?heh A-ha teh KOO-poo-hee-pa WAI-fai
- What's the wifi password?
- Ka taea e au te...?ka TYE-a eh OH teh
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- He tēpu mō te tokoruaheh TAY-poo mor teh TOR-kor-roo-a
- A table for two
- Homai te rārangi kai, koaHOR-my teh RAH-rang-ee KY, KOR-a
- The menu, please
- He aha tāu e tūtohu ai?heh A-ha TOH eh TOO-tor-hoo eye
- What do you recommend?
- Kāore au e kai...KAH-oh-reh OH eh KY
- I don't eat...
- He mate pāwera tōku ki te...heh MA-teh PAH-weh-ra TOR-koo kee teh
- I'm allergic to...
- MītiMEE-tee
- Meat
- HeiheiHAY-hay
- Chicken
- IkaEE-ka
- Fish
- Ka nui te reka!ka NOO-ee teh REH-ka
- It's delicious
- Kia ora!kee-a OR-a
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Kei te pēhea koe?kay teh PAY-heh-a KWEH
- How are you?
- Kei te paikay teh PIE
- I'm fine, thanks
- Me koe?meh KWEH
- And you?
- Ko wai tō ingoa?kor WHY tor EENG-or-a
- What's your name?
- Ko ... tōku ingoakor ... TOR-koo EENG-or-a
- My name is...
- Nō hea koe?nor HEH-a KWEH
- Where are you from?
- Nō ... ahaunor ... a-HOH
- I'm from...
- Ka pai ki ahauka PIE kee a-HOH
- I like it
- Ataahuaa-taa-HOO-a
- It's beautiful
- Nau mai, haere maiNOH my, HIGH-reh my
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Kei hea te wharepaku?kay HEH-a teh FAH-reh-pa-koo
- Where is the toilet?
- Me pēhea au e tae ai ki...?meh PAY-heh-a OH eh TIE eye kee
- How do I get to...?
- Ki te taha mauīkee teh TA-ha MOH-ee
- To the left
- Ki te taha mataukee teh TA-ha ma-TOH
- To the right
- Haere tōtikaHIGH-reh TOR-tee-ka
- Straight ahead
- Kei koneikay KOR-nay
- Here
- Teihana tereinaTAY-ha-na teh-RAY-na
- Train station
- PahiPA-hee
- Bus
- Taunga rererangiTOH-nga reh-reh-RANG-ee
- Airport
- Kia kotahi te tīkiti, koakee-a KOR-ta-hee teh TEE-kee-tee, KOR-a
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- Ināianeiee-NAH-ee-a-nay
- Now
- Ā muri akeAH MOO-ree A-keh
- Later
- I tēnei rāee TAY-nay RAH
- Today
- ĀpōpōAH-por-por
- Tomorrow
- I tēnei pōee TAY-nay POR
- Tonight
- Āhea?AH-heh-a
- When?
- Āhea ka tuwhera?AH-heh-a ka too-FEH-ra
- What time does it open?
- TaihoaTIE-hor-a
- One moment, please
- MenetiMEH-neh-tee
- Minutes
- HāoraHAH-or-a
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Āwhina mai!AH-fee-na MY
- Help!
- Waea atu ki te tākuta!WY-a A-too kee teh TAH-koo-ta
- Call a doctor
- Pirihimanapee-ree-hee-MA-na
- Police
- Whare rongoāFAH-reh ROH-ngor-ah
- Pharmacy
- HōhiperaHOR-hee-peh-ra
- Hospital
- Kua ngaro auKOO-a NGA-roh OH
- I'm lost
- Kei te māuiui aukay teh MAH-oo-ee-oo-ee OH
- I don't feel well
- I tāhaetiaee TAH-high-tee-a
- It was stolen
- He ohotata tēneiheh or-hor-TA-ta TAY-nay
- It's an emergency
- Waiho auWHY-hor OH
- Leave me alone
More languages from Oceania