particle used before people's names/'wai' (second name)/'mea' (word used instead of their actual name)/personified objects when they stand as the subject, used before personal pronouns (except 'ahau', of note 'a' will be pronounced as a long vowel before 'koe/ia', used before place names/locations when they stand as the subject, sometimes used as a literary device before words that would normally be used as nouns/verbs
belonging to (more than one thing, dominant possessor, combines with dual and plural pronouns), has/have/owns (dominant possessor, plural of 't`a'), those of/the... of (dominant possessor, used as an alternative form for 'ng`a... a')
what?
to do what?/treated in what fashion?/to do anything
I/me
shape/appearance/character/likeness/nature
to form/make
learn/teach
student
my (more than one thing, dominant possessor)
our (more than one thing, dominant possessor)
again, another/other/in addition, instead/rather/actually, on the contrary/in actual fact, yet/already (to indicate completion of an action), indeed (used to intesify/emphasise)
one... another
also/too
world, to dawn (break/lighten), bright, Earth, day/daytime, cloud
to scoop up with both hands, to take in quantities/transfer
apple
alphabet
leader/high chief/someone of high ranking, landlord/landowner, master/keeper
Lord
be comprehended/understood, front/front of a person, interest/focus, front (weather)
to face/turn towards/take notice of/pay attention to/consider
love/affection/sympathy/empathy/compassion
sorry (a modern usage)
much love
assessment, assess
our (more than two people, more than one thing, dominant possessor)
kindness
to show kindness to/care for
well then/now then/match that (used at the start of a sentence to focus attention on what follows, most often preceded by 'a' (as shown))
Indicates direction away from the speaker/person/thing who/that is the focus of the utterance
supernatural being
God
I/me
your (one person, more than one thing, dominant possessor)
myself
river/stream/creek/canal/gully/gorge/groove/furrow
help/assistance
goodbye/farewell/go, journey/trip/travel, progress
personified form of the rainbow (this name from T`uhoe)
to go/depart/travel/walk/continue
becoming/getting (indicates gradual change or progressive increase in a state), along/while moving (indicates action being done while moving)
come, welcome!/come here!
the main stone/jack that is thrown up (of the game 'ruru', similar to knucklebones)
breathe in (command)
breathe out (command)
build/stature/shape, construction/practice/habit/products/thing/property, group (of people)
Makes verbs into nouns
to build/create, to enact/draft/execute
New Zealand flax
a/an/some (when referring to something non-specific)
where?, any place/everywhere, when?
what?/why?
exercise/activity (as in a learning task)
James/Jim
Henry
to go
to flash repeatedly/twinkle/stir/become active/move at random, be selective in reciting genealogy, random/moving from one thing to another/picking and choosing, movement/reflex
step/march/hike/trek/tramp/trip/journey
to walk
friend/companion/partner/spouse/ally
for/because/on account of (to indicate the reason for something), to give emphasis
ocean swell (increase in wave height due to distant storm)
John
to plunder/aquire wrongfully
honour
Honourable (a title)
to enter
new/recent/modern, fresh
to bind/lash together/make peace
to pull out/pull up/haul up, to raise (a flag, etc.)/hoist, to pluck, to fish/reel in
he/she/him/her/it
each/every
himself/herself
that/which/who
where were?/from where?
Jehovah
nose/snout, prow/bow (of a boat/canoe)
Jesus
Jesus Christ
name
to name/acquire distinction
prayer
to beg/pray/request/appeal
life principle/gene (used with other words)
when/it was because/because
was/were
was at/were at
When counting out items/things
Used to name an event as occurring or a state existing (no tense), when (indicates the start of a new action/state (no tense), when the action is in the future
Prefix added to verbs which express action to form nouns denoting a human agent (a person who [action verb])
assessor/tutor
seller
speaker
worker/employee
farmer
guardian/trustee
haka composer
writer
have not yet/has not yet/yet
to pray/recite prayer/say grace, incantation/ritual chant/intoned incantation/charm/spell, prayer (an extension of the traditional term)
prayer to start something
prayer to finish/close something
prayer to open something
formal call/ceremonial call/welcome call
to call/call out/shout/summon
eye, eyeball
have/has not yet
then/only just/now for the first time/finally/only then will ('ka' is pronounced long when the following verb/number has only one long vowel or two short vowels)
all/every, everybody, 'est' (adjective), whole, everything
very/utterly/totally/seriously/really (an intensifier)
they're all/all of the (an idiomatic use to emphasise that a group (of people/things) are all the same)
sour
to perform the kawa ceremony/open a new house
at/in/on (present position/time), has/have/with/in possession of/having, like/as, madam/sir (a polite form of address used instead of 'e', but used only with nouns or names that are not English names or names that have been transliterated from other languages)
beware lest/might/do not (a warning to suggest something may happen)
Used as a command not to do something
where?
Sometimes used as a stylistic device when narrating a story set in the past to add excitement
at the/in the
is/are/in the act of (indicates continuing action in the present or future)
cake
armpit, area under the wing of a bird at the place where the wing is attached to the body, to quack (as a duck)
to/into/towards/on to/upon (indicates motion towards something), at/in (to show the place where an event occurs, especially if there is movement toward that place or it is in the future), according to/in the opinion of (to introduce an opinion/point of view), with/by means of, simply to connect a verb to its object (especially when experience verbs are used), if
when/until (used for future time), used to ask/say how many things are needed, not yet, so that/in order that, should not, so that... will not/would not
to/that (to indicate a purpose/wish/effect)
be/let be (indicates that it is desirable for something to occur)
where to?
to be bad/evil/naughty/ugly/untidy/corrupted/damaged/defective/faulty/wicked/harmful, bad/"ly/disparaging/"ly/contemptuous/"ly/scathing/"ly/disdainful/"ly/offensive/"ly/harmful (to indicate something done badly or to someone's detriment), sin/vice/immortality
to dislike/hate/Ill-treat
crammed/stuffed/absolutely/utterly/extremely/very (an intensifier meaning full)
in the event of/if
to/that (indicating a purpose/wish/effect)
with/by
Used when talking about something specific, before pronouns/proper names/common nouns preceded by a definitive (the), to, at
you (one person)
where is?
bellbird
file, small basket woven from flax, belly of a fishing net
learning module
speech/story/news/conversation/statement/information
to speak/tell/say/read/talk/address
elderly man/grandfather (term of address)
to desire/intend
glory
you (three or more people)
you and...
who am I?
what is your name?
word/vocabulary/saying/talk/message/statement/utterance/lyric, to speak
adjective
new word/neologism
verb
locative
dog/animal with four legs/quaruped, be without purpose/with little cause (used following a verb to indicate that the speaker believes the action is unwarranted/pointless/just a pretence)
memory/recollection/thought/reasoning, to be anxious, thoughtful, spleen (organ)
to think about/consider, to remember/recollect/bear in mind/know
via where?/by what means?
work/job/employment/trade (work)/practice/occupation/activity/exercise/operation/function, abundance/lots of/many/heaps of
to work/do/perform/make/accomplish/practise/raise (money)
clothing/garment
from/since (indicating an extension in time/space)
Seemingly for emphasis (usage includes future time expressions)
To indicate direction towards the main character
including/both (when referring to different kinds of people/things)
To indicate a perception/attitude towards the speaker
this way (indicates direction towards the speaker/person/thing who/that is the central to the utterance)
cold, be cold, coldness, winter
for me (dominant possessor), I will
power/influence/status/spiritual power/prestige/authority/control/charisma (a supernatural force in a person/place/object), to be legal/effectual/binding/authorotative/valid, jurisdiction/mandate/freedom
M`aori autonomy/M`aori authority/M`aori rights
normal/usual/natural/common/ordinary, fresh (of water), freely/without restraint/without ceremony/without object/unannounced, clear/intelligible, native/indigenous/aboriginal inhabitant
to be M`aori/apply in a M`aori way, indigenous person of Aotearoa (a new use of the word resulting from 'P`keha' contact in order to distinguish between people of M`aori descent and the colonisers)
light/enlightenment/insight/understanding/meaning/significance/brain wave
by foot/on foot/by walking
upon/in/on (for travel in a canoe or vehicle)
inspection
to watch/gaze/inspect/examine/observe
right (side/hand)
Clutha River/Cape Farewell (north South Island)
knowledge/wisdom/understanding/skill, education (modern extension of the word), knowledgeable person/sage (profoundly wise person)/scholar/intellectual/academic
death, sickness/illness/disease, problem/defect/trouble, desire/need/want, be extinguished, be calmed down/diminished/abated (of the sea, wind, etc.)
digital
we/us/they and I/them and me
and I/and me
left (side/hand), cat's cradle/string game (a hand game using a loop of string)
peace
life force/life principle/vital essence/special nature/a material symbol of a life principle/source of emotions (the essential quality and vitality of a being/entity, which can be used for a physical object/individual/ecosystem/social group in which the essence is located)
moon on the 28th/29th night of the lunar month
with (to indicate the things/people in company with which some event occurs)
must be/a must/has to be/have to be
must/had better/should (a weak command)
and
if/if only
Used to replace the name of something when the speaker has forgotten the word, or to generalise, or avoid saying a specific name (it may function in place of a personal name/location/noun/verb), soon (to denote a lapse in time)
Mair
to say/speak/do/deal with/think/intend/make/use
as if/like, if
how should it be done
speech of greeting/acknowledgement/tribute, to sigh for/lament (wail/mourn)/grieve for
to greet/pay tribute/acknowledge/thank
Mrs.
greeting, speech of greeting/tribute (at the beginning of a formal 'p`ohiri' after 'karakia'. The focus is on the living and peaceful interrelationships)
absorption, undertow (of surf)/backwash
to absorb, to lick up/swallow up/destroy
meat
for/about/concerning/for the benefit of/on account of/for the use of/in preparation for/at/on (indicates future possession, subordinate possessor)
to sleep/close (the eyes)/dream/asleep, to die/dead, to beget/born
to marry/wed/sleep with/have sex
front, the front/in front of/before/ahead (a locative)
the past/former/the time before/formerly/first
back, the rear/behind/at the back of (a locative)
the future/after/afterwards/the time after/the sequel
be ended/brought to an end/cut short/finished, having the end cut off/truncated/amputated/be cropped, amputee, perch carrying a snare to catch birds, core element/essence
to cease, to wipe out/forgive
to come/go
yours (one person, dominant possessor)/belonging to you, you did (one person)
welcome!, come (sometimes used to introduce a suggestion)
from/belonging to/of (achieved possession, subordinate possessor), at/in/on (for time comments in the past), on account of/owing to/it was because, at the time that/from the time that/until/when
to be free from 'tapu'/ordinary/unrestricted/void, as a particle it denotes an absence of limitations or conditions and often occurs in combination with other particles (may be translated in many ways)
Noah
where from?
living/occupying
to sit/stay/remain/settle/dwell/live/inhabit/reside/occupy/located
remain (to indicate a state over a period of time)
to be of high ranking/important/great/large/numerous/etc., size/quantity/vastness/amount/abundance/plenty/rank
the (plural of 'te')
Suffix used to make verbs (commonly intransitives with the passive endings '-a/-nga', statives and adjectives) into nouns (derived nouns) where they usually mean the place/time of the verb's action, a passive ending used with only a few verbs ending in '-ai'
heart/seat of affections/mind/soul, something (e.g. a song/article/etc.) used to indicate to a friendly tribe that their assistance was required in a war-like expedition
acknowledgements/thanks
many thanks/acknowledgements (often used to sign off)
energy/strength, trough of the sea
activity/exercise, to be soft/supple/weak/pliable, obedient/submissive/agreeable
online exercise/activity
siphon/straw
inhaler
to suck/suck up/inhale/suck out/drink with a straw/siphon
of/belongs to/from/attached to (subordinate possessor)
of what place?
to be aroused (including feelings) /awakened, fruitful/productive
to wake up/start (from fear/surprise/etc.)/awake/arise/rear up
my (more than one thing, subordinate possessor, plural of 't`oku'), I have (more than one thing)
running/fleeing/escape
to run/race/flee/escape/move quickly/run away
our (more than one thing, subordinate possessor), we have (they and I, more than one thing)
livelihood/welfare/survivor/food/health/living
consonant
vowel
short vowel sound
long vowel sound
our (more than two people, more than two things, subordinate possessor), we have (more than two people, more than one thing)
Christchurch
Dunedin
to be good/efficient/simple/excellent/pleasant/good-looking, well/safe and sound (to indicate something happens without any problems)
to like/approve/consent
dried/baked/hot (of the sun), scraps/dried food
to be dried/baked/hot (of the sun)
farm/farmland
to farm
head, verse/heading, torrentfish (a type of small fish)
public notice/announcement/poster/proclamation
to read/speak aloud/narrate/recite, to announce/notify/advertise/publish/proclaim
Palmerston North
Earth/Earth mother
butter
pot/basin/container/kettle
humerus/upper arm, limb/forequarter (front portion of a quadraped), flipper
to jump/leap/spring/hurdle
bag/sack/pack
to back up (a vehicle)
pen/pencil
Ben
band (musical), drum (musical instrument)
bend/corner/comma, curved, to stoop (lean down)
clam
chick/young of birds, to chirp/squeak
shelter/hiding place/haven/refuge, connection/link/association/relationship
spring (as in trampoline)
be loyal/faithful/devoted, allegiance
to be finished, block/log/termination/piece of anything cut or broken off short, prism, golden oyster (a type of shellfish)
to cut short/trim off/abbreviate/shorten, to amputate/cut off
ball
short, be finished/fulfilled/completed action (indicates fulfillment of an action), be totally/completely/absolutely/fully (indicates exhaustive nature of an action), fry/young of fish
fontanelle, a type of flute
energy
plug/bung/cork/filler
to put in/thrust in/plug up/block/cram in/load (a gun)
bull (animal)
to be blue
dry/dessicated/dull, to be cross-grained/tough
sun, day, sail (of a canoe)
over there/there/yonder, used to indicate spacial/time distance (past or future)
guitar, scraper
to scratch/scrape/rake/harrow
to wed/marry
Sky father
the bottom/underside/under, the north, the underworld
down/below
themselves
they/them (two people)
and (sometimes used to join nouns if they are personifications or refer to people)
excellent/good/pleasant/nice/becoming/fine
sweet/tasty/palatable, to be pleasant/agreeable, flavour
language/dialect/tongue/speech, voice/sound, utterance/statement/remark
sign language
just like
young centre leaf of the harakeke/new harakeke shoot
to be long/tall/slow, length of time/delayed
awareness/perception, peace (after war), news/report/fame/tidings/reputation
the senses (usually only to hear/smell/taste/feel/perceive)
using energy to help with healing and to elevate the senses
signal with hand
to sign with hands/use sign language
Lotto
in/inside/within/interior
up/above/over, the top/upper part/on top/the top surface (of something), the south
the basis of/in accordance with
morepork/owl (a type of bird)
to attack/invade
to take shelter/refuge
handshake/shake
to shake/shake hands/wave about
has/have/owns (dominant possessor), that of/the one of (alternative form for 'te... a')
to net/snare/trap
to apply 'moko'/tattoo, to paint, to print/publish
to dump/strike/beat/thump/throw down/tackle, to carve/cut/etch/fashion, to whip (a spinning top)
belonging to (dominant possessor)
to bail (water out of a canoe)
to breathe/rest
Sir/knight
to be able/accomplished/possible (derived from tae (-a), however has distinct differences in sentence structure/grammar)
side/margin/edge/bank (of a river), part/portion/section, to pass by
one (numeral), together/simultaneously/as one/in unison/at the same time/concurrently/both/all (indicating two or more things are happening or being affected by something at the same time)
actually/no less/absolutely (to add emphasis)
to clear away/set aside, to sweep
to dress (plane/sand)timber with an adze (tool similar to an axe)
one... the other/each
direct line of ancestry through the senior line, ridge pole (of a house)/bridge-beam (")/main theme, subject of a sentence (grammar), plot (drama)
to be overcome by sleep (only used in this passive form)
body and extended arm's length (tradition unit of measurement, along the ground, from the foot to the hand of an extended arm), layout/typography
to lie down/lie/lay/lie in future/in prospect
to move around the edge of, edge/border/rim
my (one thing, neutral/informal form)
my (one thing, dominant possessor), mine, I have, I own
child/boy (used only in the singular)
our (one thing, dominant possessor)/their and my, we (they and I) have
male gender
When a base (fundamental part of a word that contains its meaning and can be used on its own) is used to modify another base
Designates the quality derived from the base noun
Forms derived nouns, and is also the usual ending for verbs that take the passive ending '-tia' (these nouns usually mean the place/time of the verb's action)
person/man/human being/individual (singular form of 't`angata')
to be a person/man/human being/individual
people/men/persons/human beings (plural form of 'tangata')
to recite genealogy in a single line of descent, single line of 'whakapapa'
double(d), be doubled
to desire/attracted to
sacred/forbidden/under 'atua' protection/prohibited/restricted/set apart, holy (an adaptation of the original meaning for Christian concepts), of note: 'tapu' can be used as a noun (also plural) and verb, however it's antonym 'noa' cannot be used as a noun
to be hanging/dangling, to be unresolved/unsettled/undecided/unfinished/inconclusive/set aside/unpaid, to be deferred/delayed/lapsed
to raise up/lift/suspend/hang
our (yours (more than one) and my, one thing, dominant possessor)
we/us/you (two or more) and I
to settle down/subside/abated, neat/smart/attractive/beautiful/becoming, grace/elegance
to sing/bark (of a dog)
to attack
to land/disembark/come to rest/settle on/count/perch/ride at anchor/resolve
you (one person) and I/we two/us
student/pupil/apprentice/pattern/example/model/design/draft/sample/specimen/template/skilled person/cadet, precedent
to pre-ordain/set aside/model
the (singular, when referring to a particular individual/thing), the (when referring to a whole class of things/people designated by the following noun), note that there are also other uses, but this is the general meaning of those uses
Mr./mister/sir (a way to show respect)
'M`aori' alphabet
A town name that refers to "the end of the navigable river"
the essence of one's child self/vitality (in all people)
the essence of masculinity (in all people)
the essence of femininity (in all people)
that (near/connected with the listener)
each/every
hello! (speaking to one person)/thank you
well then!/right then!/OK/that's that done (an idiom used to suggest that the speaker thinks a task has been completed)
this (near/connected to the speaker), here
Used when referring to the present
each
that (away from or unconnected with the speaker and listener), then (interjection), there/yonder
each
the other/that other/last/next (used of time either before/after the present)
Taylor
the M`aori language/language (can be shortened to 'reo' while still holding the same meaning)
first/1st
seventh/7th
start/beginning/commencement
to begin/start/kick off/commence
beginning/starting/introduction/start/commencement
body/trunk of a tree/main part of anything, torso, self/person/reality (as opposed to an apparition), real/really/actual/actually
I totally agree/yes indeed/agreed/positively (used as an interjection to show strong agreement with a statement)
main/important/value/significance/essence/essential/ quintessence/soul/substance
best/importance/main/top/principal/pre-eminent/favourite/staple/real/true/absolute (to indicate something is unrivalled/true/genuine)
very/quite/exact/true/really (to show a high degree/absoluteness)
belonging to (subordinate possessor, combines with the dual and plural pronouns), has/have/own/owns, that of/the one of/the... of (subordinate possessor, used as an alternative for for 'te... o')
to drag/haul/pull/open or shut (a sliding door or window), to drag (on a computer), to open or shut (a sliding door or window)
to moisten/wet/anoint
to be calm/tranquil/peaceful
your (one person, one thing, neutral/informal form)
guidance/advice/suggestion, sign/mark/symbol/emblem/token/qualification/cue/symptom/proof/directions/company/landmark/ distinguishing feature/signature
to perform a ritual
to instruct/advise/save the life of/spare/guide/direct/appoint, to point out/show/indicate/point at/gesticulate (use gestures), to preserve/conserve
vowel blends, vowel
double vowel (a method to show long vowels)
macron
my (one thing, subordinate possessor), mine ("), I have/I own (")
our/their and my (one thing, subordinate possessor), we have (")
thumb/big toe
our/yours (more than one) and my (one thing, subordinate possessor), we have (")
ringing in the ears
blood (usually in the plural), to be bleeding
weeds
to drag (a number of objects)/tow, can also be used in other ways such as dragging a pencil eraser
your (one person, one thing, subordinate possessor), yours ("), you have/you own (")
stand/position/stance, to remain/placed, to turn up (of the nose, often indicating disdain/to snob)/sniff/smell, to be erect/raised, to stop/halt, to be rough/high (of the sea)
to stand/take place/set in place/establish/hold/convene, to be appointed
to fight/engage/oppose
Moon on the fourteenth (or sixteenth) night of the lunar month (for some tribes - e.g. Te Whānau-ā-Apanui - this is the thirtieth night of the lunar month), Moon on the thirtieth night after the full moon
done for a short time/to last for a short time
chair/stool/seat/bench/pew
agnatic line/senior male descent line (male line of descent through the first-born male in each generation)
time/season/period of time/interval/term/duration
the middle/between/among/midst/amid/the intervening space (locative), between (of time)
location/locality/place/part/piece/portion/section/share/segment/allocation, opening/break
to break/split/break open/rend/break through/cut, to partition/subdivide
woman/female/lady/wife (all in the singular), womanly/feminine
women/females/ladies/wives (plural form of 'wahine'), feminine
the outside/out (locative that refers to space physically outside another defined place), the open sea (away from land)/offshore, the coast (as opposed to inland)
who?/whom?, what? (for people's names), who? (when asking for a person's second name), and others (used when the speaker cannot/does not want to give all names: e.g. ‘et. al.’)
song/chant/psalm
to sing
spirit/soul/spirit of a person which exists beyond death, attitude/quintessence/feel/mood/feeling/nature/essence/atmosphere, bonfire moss (a type of moss)
canoe/vehicle/conveyance (transport)/spirit medium/medium (of an 'atua'), long narrow receptacle/box for feathers, water trough, allied kinship groups descended from the crew of a canoe which migrated to New Zealand and occupying a set territory, crew of a canoe, flock/flight (of birds)
Walker
be hot, heat, be burnt, be burnt down
to burn
to be followed/chased/pursued/looked for/searched for/courted/wooed/aimed at (the passive form of ‘whai’)
to injure by spells/bewitch (inflicting physical and psychological harm and even death through spiritual powers)
thought/opinion/plan/understanding/idea/intention/gift/conscience
to think/plan/consider/decide
pronunciation
to pronounce/recite/express/mention/say/perform/narrate
to recite genealogy including spouses, having spouses included, sleeping, marriage
to give in marriage/marry off, to close (the eyes), to recite traditional lore
to put to sleep
concluding/end/last/final/finale
removal of 'tapu'
to remove ‘tapu’ (to free things that have the extensions of ‘tapu’, but it does not affect intrinsic ‘tapu’)
to invalidate/extinguish (used particularly in referring to land titles)
genealogy/genealogical table/lineage/descent
to lie flat/lay flat, to place in layers/lay one upon another/stack flat, to recite in proper order (e.g. genealogies, legends, months)/recite genealogies
sheltered/protected/safe, protector/adviser/mentor, governing body/authority
to protect/shield/shelter
leading/introductory, evidence/testimony, reciting/tempo/rhythm
to go in search of/search out, begin a speech or talk/narrate/deliver (a speech), to trace/recite, to go to meet, to conduct/lead/bring along
proverb/significant saying/formulaic saying/cryptic saying/aphorism (this spelling is used when the person who originally said it is known)
proverb/significant saying/formulaic saying/cryptic saying/aphorism (this spelling is used when the person who originally said it is unknown)
to utter a proverb (known origins/unknown origins)
planting
to plant/introduce/insert
to cause to conceive/fertilise
opening
to open
extended family/family group/a familiar term of address to a number of people (the primary economic unit of traditional ‘Māori’ society. In the modern context the term is sometimes used to include friends who may not have any kinship ties to other members)
to be born/give birth
house/building/residence/dwelling/shed/hut/habitation, people in a house, suit (cards)
memory palace (a useful method to commit information to memory)
land (often used in the plural), placenta/afterbirth, country/land/nation/state, ground, territory/domain
star (sometimes also used for other celestial bodies, e.g. comets), asterisk
seven (numeral)
seventh lunar month of the 'M`aori' year (approximately equivalent to December)
to have/acquire/possess/win (a prize, etc.)/obtain/get/receive
acquisition/attainment/procurement, income/receipt, tally/point (won in a game)
unity as one
collar bone/clavical
to drive/urge/compel