Te Kupu o te Wiki – 2017/18

In celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), we are again bringing you Te Kupu o te Wiki … not just for a week: for a whole year!

Kia ora te reo Māori

The theme for this year is:

Kia Ora te reo Māori

The emphasis of Te Kupu o te Wiki this year is colloquial youth expressions (in English and Māori) and links to traditional whakatauki, for example:

Mauri mahi, mauri ora
"Do the mahi, get the treats" (through work, we prosper)

The full whakataukī (‘Māori proverb’) is: “Mauri mahi, mauri ora; mauri noho, mauri mate” – Industry begets prosperity; idleness begets poverty.

Here are some things to do:

  1. Register for Kupu o te Rā and you will also receive Te Kupu o te Wiki every Monday.
  2. During Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Hā o te Rā is running free Māori language pronunciation sessions, so learn more and sign up!
  3. Win cool headphones courtesy of Moana Rd – check out te Kupu o te Rā on Facebook for more info.
  4. Want to plan ahead or practise to impress your friends? See below for the first set of kupu together with the sound files (MP3s).

KupuDownload
Ehara i te tīY.O.L.O. – you only live onceMP3PDF
He kapu kawhe māu?Would you like a cup of coffee?MP3PDF
Āhea tātou e wehe atu?When are we leaving?MP3PDF
Kei te aha?Up to? (What are you up to / doing?)MP3PDF
Wehi nā!OMG! Oh my gosh!MP3PDF
Kei te haere koe ki hea?Where are you off to? Where are you going?MP3PDF
Mea rawa akenek minnit / next minute / very soonMP3PDF
Ka mutu pea!Mean! / Excellent!MP3PDF
E mea ana koe!You bet! / Certainly!MP3PDF
Wāwau ana!That's cray cray! / That's crazy!MP3PDF
Taiea ana!Skux! / You got swag!MP3PDF
Hangareka ana!What a crack up!MP3PDF
Pakaru ana taku hamuti!I was terrified! (I was s%!t-scared!)MP3PDF
ktk – kaha te katakatalol – laugh out loudMP3PDF
Kia ora rawa atu!Chur! / Thanks heaps!MP3PDF
Eke Tangaroa!Win! Made it!MP3PDF
E hika!What the! / Far out!MP3PDF
Me haere?That us? / Shall we go?MP3PDF
Ngere ana!Fail! / to fail in one's objectiveMP3PDF
Me he tē!Like a boss!MP3PDF
Ringa poto!Hold out! / Stingy guy!MP3PDF
Wheo kē!Buzzy!MP3PDF
Mā te aha i tēnā!Better than nothing!MP3PDF
He aha hoki!Whatever! Yeah right!MP3PDF
Aheiha!Yeah, hard! Truly! Exactly! Certainly!MP3PDF
e te taudarling / my love / babeMP3PDF
Ko tāua tahi tēnā!That's us! / Me too!MP3PDF
e mua kai kaiFOMO – fear of missing outMP3PDF
He uaua paraoa!What a beast!MP3PDF
mauri taurelax / chill / calm / without panicMP3PDF
Kāore i tua atu i a koe!There’s no one better than you!MP3PDF
te ara āwhiothe roundabout route, "finesse"MP3PDF
Pukukata ana!I'm weak with laughter!MP3PDF
Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te kārohirohi i mua i tō huarahiWell wishes, especially to a travellerMP3PDF
me ko Piwaiwakasnitch / tattletaleMP3PDF
Noho mata hī taua!Stay alert / stay woke!MP3PDF
Hemo ana i te kata! (HAITK)Laugh my a&$ off! (LMAO)MP3PDF
Mō te whakameamea!What a diva! So dramatic!MP3PDF
Ka nui tēnā! (KNT)Too much information! (TMI)MP3PDF
He ika haehae kupengastirrer / troublemakerMP3PDF
He toka tū moanaa rock standing firm in the seaMP3PDF
Nōku te hēMy mistake / my bad / sorryMP3PDF
He kura te tangata!We are all precious!MP3PDF
Okea ururoatia!Keep fighting! Strive!MP3PDF
He tou tīwaiwaka!Ants in your pants!MP3PDF
ihu oneonehard workerMP3PDF
Mō te patu wairua!What a sad guy!MP3PDF
Ka hoki mai! / KHMBe right back / BRB / Will returnMP3PDF
Mauri mahi, mauri ora"Do the mahi, get the treats" (through work, we prosper)MP3PDF
Kua puta a pito!I’m so full!MP3PDF
He waka eke noaWe are all in this together / We got this, fam!MP3PDF
Whāia te iti kahurangi!Strive for something of great value!MP3PDF

Some good resources: