NCEA L1 Te Reo Māori flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Tohutō

The macron mark used in written Māori to indicate a long vowel, as in ā, ē, ī, ō, ū. It distinguishes meaning, e.g. 'keke' (cake) versus 'kēkē' (armpit).

Whakarongo

To listen. In listening tasks, identify the topic and purpose from the first sentence, which often states who, what, and where.

Kōrero

To speak or talk; also speech, talk, or narrative. In speaking tasks, use clear pronunciation and appropriate register for the audience.

Pānui

To read; also a notice or announcement. In reading tasks, scan for the main idea and use particles to identify who does what.

Tuhituhi

To write; writing. In writing tasks, use the macron consistently and apply the correct tense marker for the time intended.

Mihi

A greeting or speech of welcome. A short mihi often includes greeting the audience, stating connections, and closing with thanks.

Whakapapa

Genealogy or connections. In a mihi, whakapapa links the speaker to places, ancestors, and the audience.

Te reo Māori

The Māori language. It uses five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) with short and long forms, and a verb-subject-object sentence order in many constructions.

Ka

Tense marker for future or sequential action, e.g. 'Ka haere au āpōpō' (I will go tomorrow). It can also mark a sequence of events.

I

Past tense marker placed before the verb, e.g. 'I haere au ki te kura' (I went to school). It also marks a direct object in some sentences.

E ... ana

Present or ongoing tense pattern, with 'e' before the verb and 'ana' after it, e.g. 'E haere ana au' (I am going).

Kua

Perfect tense marker showing a completed action, e.g. 'Kua tae mai ia' (He/she has arrived). It often implies a result now relevant.

Kāore

Negative word meaning 'no' or 'not'. Combined with 'i' for past (kāore i), 'e' for future/ongoing (kāore e), and 'kia' for 'not yet'.

Ko

Particle used before a subject or predicate nominal, e.g. 'Ko Hine te kaiako' (Hine is the teacher). It often introduces names and places.

Te / ngā

Definite articles: 'te' for singular and 'ngā' for plural, e.g. 'te whare' (the house), 'ngā whare' (the houses).

He

Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'some', e.g. 'he whare' (a house). It is also used in negative and existential sentences.

A / o possession

Two categories of possession: 'a' for movable or active possession (e.g. 'tāku pukapuka') and 'o' for inherited or inalienable possession (e.g. 'tōku whare').

Tāua / māua

Pronouns for 'we two': 'tāua' includes the person spoken to, while 'māua' excludes them. Choose based on who is included.

Tātou / mātou

Pronouns for 'we' (three or more): 'tātou' includes the listener, while 'mātou' excludes the listener.

Kei te pēhea koe?

A common greeting meaning 'How are you?'. The reply can be 'Kei te pai ahau' (I am well) or 'Kei te pōuri ahau' (I am sad).

Nō hea koe?

Question meaning 'Where are you from?'. A reply uses 'Nō [place] ahau', e.g. 'Nō Tāmaki Makaurau ahau' (I am from Auckland).

Ko wai tō ingoa?

Question meaning 'What is your name?'. The reply uses 'Ko [name] ahau', e.g. 'Ko Hine ahau' (I am Hine).

Ngā tūmahi

Verbs. In Māori, verbs are marked for tense by particles such as 'i', 'e ... ana', 'ka', 'kua', and 'e ... ai'.

Ngā tūpou

Pronouns, such as au/ahau (I), koe (you), ia (he/she), māua/tāua (we two), mātou/tātou (we three or more).

Ngā pātai

Questions. Question words include wai (who), aha (what), hea (where), āhea (when future), nāhea (when past), pēhea (how), and e hia (how many).

Whaka- prefix

A causative prefix meaning 'to make' or 'to cause', e.g. 'whakamārama' (to explain, make clear) and 'whakapono' (to believe).

-nga suffix

A nominalising suffix that turns a verb into a noun, e.g. 'kōrero' (to speak) to 'kōrerotanga' (speech) or 'haere' to 'haerenga' (journey).

-tanga suffix

A suffix forming abstract nouns, e.g. 'tika' (correct) to 'tikatanga' (correctness) and 'pai' (good) to 'paitanga' (goodness).

Reduplication

Repeating part or all of a word to show plurality, intensity, or repetition, e.g. 'paki' (to slap) to 'pakipaki' (to clap repeatedly).

VSO word order

Many Māori sentences place the verb first, then the subject, then the object, e.g. 'Ka kai te tamaiti i te āporo' (The child eats the apple).

Kei te

Marker for present ongoing action, e.g. 'Kei te kōrero ia' (He/she is speaking). It is also used in the greeting 'Kei te pēhea koe?'.

Ki te

Particle meaning 'to' before a verb, forming an infinitive, e.g. 'Ka haere au ki te kai' (I am going to eat).