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Common Maori Phrases
Essential Maori (Te Reo Māori) phrases with pronunciation guides.
👋Greetings & Basics
| English | Maori | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Kia ora | KIA O-ra |
| Good morning | Mōrena | mo-RE-na |
| Good evening | Pō mārie | po MA-ri-e |
| Good night | Pō pai | po PAI |
| How are you? | Kei te pēhea koe? | kay te pe-HE-a KO-e |
| I'm fine, thank you | Kei te pai ahau, tēnā koe | kay te PAI a-HAU te-NA KO-e |
| What is your name? | Ko wai tō ingoa? | ko WAI to IN-go-a |
| My name is... | Ko... tōku ingoa | ko... TO-ku IN-go-a |
| Nice to meet you | He hari tōku ngākau ki a koe | he HA-ri TO-ku NGA-kau ki a KO-e |
| Please | Tēnā koa | te-NA KO-a |
| Thank you | Tēnā koe | te-NA KO-e |
| You're welcome | Āe, tino pai | A-e ti-no PAI |
| Yes | Āe | A-e |
| No | Kāo | KA-o |
| Sorry | Aroha mai | a-RO-ha MAI |
| Excuse me | Tūkua mai | tu-KU-a MAI |
| Goodbye | Hei konā rā | hay ko-NA RA |
| See you later | Ka kite anō | ka KI-te a-NO |
| I don't understand | Kāore au e mārama ana | KA-o-re au e ma-RA-ma A-na |
| Do you speak English? | E kōrero Ingarihi ana koe? | e ko-RE-ro in-ga-RI-hi A-na KO-e |
✈️Travel
| English | Maori | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the airport? | Kei hea te taunga waka rererangi? | kay HE-a te TAU-nga WA-ka re-re-RAN-gi |
| How much does this cost? | E hia te utu? | e HI-a te U-tu |
| I need a taxi | He tākihi tāku e hiahia ana | he TA-ki-hi TA-ku e hia-HI-a A-na |
| Where is the hotel? | Kei hea te hōtera? | kay HE-a te ho-TE-ra |
| I have a reservation | He rēhita tāku | he RE-hi-ta TA-ku |
| Train station | Tūāhū tereina | tu-A-hu te-RAY-na |
| Bus stop | Tūāhū pahi | tu-A-hu PA-hi |
| Ticket | Tikiti | ti-KI-ti |
| Passport | Uruwhenua | u-ru-WHE-nu-a |
| Help! | Āwhina! | A-fi-na |
| I'm lost | Kua ngaro au | ku-a NGA-ro AU |
| Turn left | Huri ki te maui | HU-ri ki te MAU-i |
| Turn right | Huri ki te matau | HU-ri ki te MA-tau |
| Straight ahead | Tōtika atu | to-TI-ka A-tu |
| How far is it? | He aha te tawhiti? | he A-ha te ta-WHI-ti |
| Museum | Whare taonga | FA-re ta-ON-ga |
| Beach | Tāhuna | ta-HU-na |
| Hospital | Hōhipera | ho-hi-PE-ra |
| Pharmacy | Toa rongoā | TO-a ron-GO-a |
| Police station | Tūāhū pirihimana | tu-A-hu pi-ri-hi-MA-na |
🍽️Food & Dining
| English | Maori | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I'm hungry | Kei te hiakai au | kay te hia-KAI AU |
| I'm thirsty | Kei te hiawai au | kay te hia-WAI AU |
| The menu, please | Te rārangi kai, tēnā koa | te RA-ran-gi KAI te-NA KO-a |
| Water | Wai | WAI |
| Coffee | Kawhe | KA-fe |
| Bread | Parāoa | pa-RA-o-a |
| Meat | Mīti | MI-ti |
| Vegetarian | Kai tipu anake | KAI ti-PU A-na-ke |
| Delicious | He reka | he RE-ka |
| The bill, please | Te pire, tēnā koa | te PI-re te-NA KO-a |
| I am allergic to... | He āputa ōku ki... | he A-pu-ta O-ku ki... |
| No sugar | Kāore he huka | KA-o-re he HU-ka |
| Breakfast | Ātea | A-te-a |
| Lunch | Tina | TI-na |
| Dinner | Hapa | HA-pa |
| Restaurant | Whare kai | FA-re KAI |
| Table for two | Tēpu mō tokorua | TE-pu mo to-ko-RU-a |
| Beer | Pia | PI-a |
| Wine | Waina | WAI-na |
| Dessert | Tiakarete | ti-a-ka-RE-te |
🚨Emergency
| English | Maori | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Āwhina! | A-fi-na |
| Call the police! | Waea ki ngā pirihimana! | WA-e-a ki nga pi-ri-hi-MA-na |
| I need a doctor | He rata tāku e hiahia ana | he RA-ta TA-ku e hia-HI-a A-na |
| Fire! | Ahi! | A-hi |
| Ambulance | Āmbulance | AM-bu-lans |
| I've been robbed | Kua tahuna au | ku-a ta-HU-na AU |
| I'm injured | Kua whara au | ku-a FA-ra AU |
| Emergency | Ohotata | o-ho-TA-ta |
| Where is the hospital? | Kei hea te hōhipera? | kay HE-a te ho-hi-PE-ra |
| Lost passport | Uruwhenua ngaro | u-ru-WHE-nu-a NGA-ro |
| I need help | He āwhina tāku e hiahia ana | he A-fi-na TA-ku e hia-HI-a A-na |
| Danger | Mōrearea | mo-re-A-re-a |
| Stop! | Tū! | TU |
| Thief! | Tāhae! | TA-ha-e |
| I'm sick | Kei te māuiui au | kay te ma-UI-ui AU |
💼Business
| English | Maori | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Mōrena | mo-RE-na |
| I have a meeting | He hui tāku | he HUI TA-ku |
| Business card | Kāri pakihi | KA-ri pa-KI-hi |
| What is your email? | He aha tō īmēra? | he A-ha to I-me-ra |
| I work for... | Mahi ana au mō... | MA-hi A-na AU mo... |
| Manager | Kaiwhakahaere | kai-fa-ka-HA-e-re |
| Meeting | Hui | HUI |
| Office | Tari | TA-ri |
| Budget | Tahua | ta-HU-a |
| Invoice | Pire | PI-re |
| Contract | Kirimana | ki-ri-MA-na |
| Deadline | Rā mutunga | ra mu-TU-nga |
| Partnership | Hoa mahi | HO-a MA-hi |
| Thank you for your time | Tēnā koe mō tō wā | te-NA KO-e mo to WA |
🔢Numbers & Time
| English | Maori | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| One | Tahi | TA-hi |
| Two | Rua | RU-a |
| Three | Toru | TO-ru |
| Four | Whā | FA |
| Five | Rima | RI-ma |
| Six | Ono | O-no |
| Seven | Whitu | FI-tu |
| Eight | Waru | WA-ru |
| Nine | Iwa | I-wa |
| Ten | Tekau | TE-kau |
| Twenty | Rua tekau | RU-a TE-kau |
| Fifty | Rima tekau | RI-ma TE-kau |
| One hundred | Kotahi rau | ko-TA-hi RAU |
| One thousand | Kotahi mano | ko-TA-hi MA-no |
| What time is it? | E hia karaka? | e HI-a ka-RA-ka |
| Today | Āianei | A-ia-nei |
| Tomorrow | Āpōpō | A-po-po |
| Yesterday | Inanahi | i-na-NA-hi |
| Monday | Rāhina | ra-HI-na |
| Friday | Rāmere | ra-ME-re |
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