n • intermediate
tikanga
custom / correct practice
tee-kah-ngah
Me whai tikanga tātou.
We must follow proper custom.
✦ TE REO MĀORI ✦
🌀 Cultural
13 words and phrases for focused te reo Māori practice.
Cultural vocabulary
Pick a word card below to practise the Māori word, meaning, pronunciation and example sentence.
Vocabulary
culturetikangaidentitymaori
n • intermediate
mana
prestige / authority
mah-nah
He nui tōna mana.
They have great prestige.
n • intermediate
tapu
sacred / restricted
tah-poo
He wāhi tapu tēnei.
This is a sacred place.
n • intermediate
noa
ordinary / unrestricted
noh-ah
Kua noa te wāhi ināianei.
The place is unrestricted now.
n • intermediate
whakapapa
genealogy
fah-kah-pah-pah
Kei te ako mātou i te whakapapa.
We are learning genealogy.
v • intermediate
waiata
song
why-ah-tah
Ka waiata tātou i muri i te kōrero.
We will sing after the speech.
n • intermediate
karakia
prayer / incantation
kah-rah-kee-ah
Ka tīmata tātou me te karakia.
We will begin with a karakia.
n • intermediate
taonga
treasure
tow-ngah
He taonga tuku iho tēnei.
This is a treasured inheritance.
n • intermediate
manaakitanga
hospitality
mah-nah-ah-kee-tah-ngah
He mea nui te manaakitanga.
Hospitality is important.
n • intermediate
kaitiakitanga
guardianship
kye-tee-ah-kee-tah-ngah
Me tiaki te taiao mā te kaitiakitanga.
We must care for the environment through guardianship.
n • intermediate
haka
song and dance
hah-kah
Kei te whakangungu te kapa i te haka.
The group is practising the haka.
n • intermediate
hui
meeting / gathering
hoo-ee
He hui nui āpōpō.
There is a big gathering tomorrow.
n • intermediate
whakaute
respect
fah-kow-teh
He mea nui te whakaute.
Respect is important.