A collection of useful phrases in Māori, a Polynesian language spoken in New Zealand.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Guide to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal, sg = singular (to one person), dl = dual (to two people), pl = plural (to three or more people).
| English | te Reo Māori (Māori) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Haere mai Nau mai |
| Hello (General greeting) | Kia ora Kia ora rā kōrua (dl) Kia ora koutou (pl) Tēnā koe (sg/frm) Tēnā kōrua (dl/frm) Tēnā koutou (pl/frm) |
| How are you? | Kei te pēhea koe? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Kei te pai |
| Long time no see | He roa te wā kua kitea |
| What's your name? | Ko wai tōu ingoa? |
| My name is ... | Ko ... ahau |
| Where are you from? | Nō hea koe? |
| I'm from ... | Nō ... ahau |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Kia ora Ata mārie Mōrena |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Kia ora |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Kia ora |
| Good night | Pō mārie |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
E noho rā (said by person leaving) E haere rā (said by person staying) Hei kona rā (inf) |
| Good luck! | Kia waimarie |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Mauri ora! Kia ora! |
| Have a nice day | Kia ora Ata mārie Mōrena |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Kia mākona |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Kia pai te haere |
| Yes | Āe |
| No | Kāo Ehē |
| Maybe | Tērā pea |
| I don't understand | Kaore au e mārama Aroha mai |
| Please speak more slowly | Tēnā koa*, āta kōrero |
| Please say that again | Tēnā koa, kōrero mai anō |
| Please write it down | Tuhia Tuhia koa |
| Do you speak Māori? | He reo Māori tōu? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Āe, he iti |
| How do you say ... in Māori? | He aha te kupu Māori mō ...? |
| Excuse me | Arohaina mai |
| How much is this? | He aha te utu? |
| Sorry | Arohaina mai Mō Taku Hē |
| Thank you | usually expressed through rising intonation or Kia ora |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Kei hea te wharepaku? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Mā tēnei tāne ngā mea katoa e utu |
| This lady will pay for everything | Mā tēnei wahine ngā mea katoa e utu |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ka Pīrangi koe ki te kanikani tahi tāua? |
| I love you | Kei te aroha au ki a koe |
| Get well soon | Kia piki te ora |
| Leave me alone! | Haere atu! |
| Help! | Āwhina! |
| Fire! | Ahi! |
| Stop! | Kāti! |
| Be careful! | Kia Tūpato! |
| Be quiet! | Turituri! |
| Call the police! | Waea atu ki te Pirihimana! |
| Christmas greetings | Meri Kirihimete |
| New Year greetings | Ngā mihi o te tau hou Ngā mihi o te tau hou ki a koutou katoa |
| Easter greetings | Ngā mihi o te Aranga |
| Birthday greetings | Rā Whānau ki a Koe! |
| Congratulations! | Nga mihi! |
| One language is never enough | Kore rawa e rawaka te reo kotahi |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Kī tōnu taku waka topaki i te tuna |
*Note: Tēnā koa (please) is not absolutely necessary in these phrases. Your tone of voice can express the same thing.
Translations and corrections by Tamati Taylor, Fern Jenkins and Carla Rikihana
Hear some Māori phrases:
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Māori | Phrases | Numbers | Family words | Tower of Babel | Learning materials
Other collections of Māori phrases (some with audio)
http://www.korero.maori.nz/forlearners
http://www.maorilanguage.net/phrase_drills/
http://www.maori.org.nz/kotereo/
http://www.day12.com/phrasebook_maori.htm
Hawaiian, Māori, Niuean, Rapa Nui, Samoan, Tahitian, Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuvaluan
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