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).

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

Some good resources:

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