Essential Maori Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Maori words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation, please see the Pronunciation Guide below. Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ... The Top 10 ... Tēnā koe! (to 1 person) Tēnā kōrua! (to 2 people) Tēnā koutou! (to many people) Hello. E noho rā! (by the person leaving) Haere rā! (by the person staying) Goodbye. Kōrero Ingarihi koe? Do you speak English? Kāore au i te mōhio. I don't understand. Iti noa iho. A little. Āe. Kāo. Yes. No. E hia te utu? How much is it? He nui rawa te utu. Kei te pai. Too expensive. OK. Koa ... Please. Tēnā (rāwā atu) koe. (to 1 person) Tēnā (rāwā atu) kōrua. (to 2 people) Tēnā (rāwā atu) koutou. (to many people) Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Ko wai tōu ingoa? What is your name? Ko ... tōku ingoa. My name is ... Kei te pēhea koe? How are you? Kei te pai ahau. Me koe? Fine. And you? Kei hea ...? Where is ...? Kei hea te wharepaku? Tāne/Wahine Where is the toilet? Men/Women Mō taku hē. Aroha mai. Sorry. Excuse me. Hei aha. No problem. E hiahia ana au ki te ... I want ... Kāore au e hiahia ana ki te ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ... The Top 30 ...

Nō hea koe? Where are you from? Nō Ahitereira au. I am from Australia. Hōmai koa te pire. The bill, please. Kua ngaro au. I'm lost. Kāti! Tai hoa! Stop! Wait! Konei, konā, korā. Here, there, over there. Takihī. Hōtēra. Papa rererangi. Tūnga pahi. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. He pai ... ki au. I like ... Kāore i te pai ... ki au. I don't like ... tahi, rua, toru, whā, rima. one, two, three, four, five. ono, whitu, waru, iwa, tekau. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Amerika - America Kānata - Canada Ingarangi - England Airani - Ireland Aotearoa - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ... Useful Extras ...

Kia ora! Cheers! pai / kino good / bad nui / iti big / small tūtata / mamao near / far iti iho / ētahi atu less / more tētahi anō / rawaka another / enough He kaimanga au. I am vegetarian. Kāore au i te kai i te mīti. I don't eat meat. ... heihei. ... chicken. ... ika. ... fish. Kua mate pāwera au i te nati. I am allergic to nuts. ... pīnati. ... peanuts. ... ika. ... fish. ... kai moana. ... seafood. ... hēki. ... eggs.