Greetings and politeness in Maori
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Maori words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Maori phrases in this lesson
- 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
The formal greeting to one person. To two people say tēnā kōrua, and to three or more tēnā koutou. You will hear it at the start of speeches, meetings and emails.
Borrowed from English morning and used all over the country, on the radio and in offices. Ata mārie, peaceful morning, is the more formal choice.
Literally "peaceful evening". "Kia ora" works at any hour.
Literally stay well, said by the person leaving. The one staying behind says haere rā, go well. Ka kite anō, see you again, is the casual version.
Short for ka kite anō, see you again, and used by everyone in New Zealand.
Often shortened to koa at the end of a request, as in homai te wai, koa, pass the water, please.
Literally greetings or acknowledgments. Common as a thanks and as a sign-off in emails. In speech, a quick kia ora does the same job.
Literally it is nothing. The usual reply to thanks. Kei te pai, it is fine, works just as well.
Literally "my mistake".
Literally "show love toward me". Used to ask to pass, to interrupt, or to apologize.
Literally "it is good to meet you".