Te Reo Māori Videos!

In Māori recipes, kia indicates the required quantity, such as Kia rua ngā kapu miraka (“Use two cups of milk”). Instructions are often given as commands. Short verbs use e (e.g., E tū! “Stand!”). Longer verbs usually take passive suffixes like -hia, -tia, or -a, creating commands such as Tapahia ngā huawhenua (“Chop the vegetables”).

In te reo Māori, commands are often formed using the passive imperative, where a passive suffix such as -hia, -tia, or -a is added to the verb (e.g., Tapahia ngā huawhenua – “Chop the vegetables”). These instructions are common in recipes, classrooms, and homes. In command sentences, the object does not take i. This structure is widely used for everyday instructions.

In te reo Māori, words can change meaning using suffixes (added to the end) and prefixes (added to the beginning). The prefix kai- indicates a person who performs an action (e.g., kaiako – teacher). The prefix whaka- means “to cause something to happen.” Combined with passive suffixes like -hia, these forms often create commands such as Whakapaihia tō rūma (“Tidy your room”).

Passive forms are very important in te reo Māori. Unlike English, which usually prefers active sentences, Māori frequently uses passive constructions. A passive verb is formed by adding a passive suffix (e.g., kai → kainga). The thing affected becomes the subject, and the person who performed the action is introduced with e, e.g., I kainga te keke e au (“The cake was eaten by me”).

Active sentences describe someone doing an action, and in Māori the object is marked with i, e.g., Kei te pānui a Rangi i te pukapuka (“Rangi is reading the book”). Passive sentences describe something having an action done to it. The affected thing becomes the focus, and the agent is marked with e, e.g., Kei te pānuitia te pukapuka e Rangi. In active sentences the doer is required but the object is optional; in passive sentences the affected thing is required while the agent may be omitted.

In Māori, passive sentences can be confusing when two people are involved. In a passive sentence, the person affected comes first and the agent (the one doing the action) is marked with e: Kei te āwhinatia a Rangi e Mere (“Rangi is being helped by Mere”). In an active sentence, the doer comes first and the object is marked with i: Kei te āwhina a Rangi i a Mere (“Rangi is helping Mere”).

In Māori, i marks the object in active sentences, e.g., Kei te kai ahau i te keke (“I am eating the cake”). i is not used in commands or passive sentences. In passive sentences, the person performing the action (the agent) is marked with e, e.g., Kei te kainga te keke e au (“The cake is being eaten by me”).

In Māori, hōmai means “give to me” and hōatu means “give away from me to someone else.” They function like command forms and follow similar rules to passive imperatives, so i is not used before the object (e.g., Hōmai te waea ki a au). Quantities can be added using kia. These forms are commonly used for requests and instructions.

In Māori, nouns require a determiner before them to indicate which, how many, or whose item is meant. Common determiners include te (the, singular), ngā (the, plural), he (a/some), tētahi (a), and ētahi (some), as well as possessive and demonstrative forms like tēnei, tēnā, tērā. The determiner taua refers to something previously mentioned (“that aforementioned thing”), with plural aua.

To negate a verbal sentence in te reo Māori, three steps are used. First, place kāore at the beginning of the sentence. Second, move the subject directly after kāore. Third, change the present marker kei te to i te. For example, Kei te waiata ahau becomes Kāore au i te waiata (“I am not singing”).

Different tense markers in te reo Māori have specific negation patterns using kāore. For kei te (present) and i te (past continuous), the negative form is kāore + subject + i te + verb, e.g., Kāore au i te haere (“I am/was not going”). For i (simple past), the form is kāore + subject + i + verb, e.g., Kāore a Rangi i katakata (“Rangi did not laugh”). Because present and past continuous negatives look identical, context or time words such as inanahi (yesterday) or ināianei (now) clarify the meaning.

The tense marker e…ana describes ongoing action and can refer to past, present, or future depending on context (e.g., E kai ana ahau). Its negation is formed with kāore + subject + e + verb + ana, such as Kāore au e kai ana (“I am/was/will not be eating”). This structure can also appear in relative clauses.

The future marker ka is negated with kāore + subject + e + verb, not ka. For example, Ka kai au (“I will eat”) becomes Kāore au e kai (“I will not eat”). The particle e indicates unrealised action—something that has not happened and will not happen. The same particle appears in other structures, including commands, counting, passive agents, and ongoing actions.

The tense marker kua (has/have) is negated using the structure kāore anō … kia …. This expresses that something has not happened yet, e.g., Kāore anō au kia kai (“I have not eaten yet”). It differs from kāore au e…, which means someone will not do something in the future.

Māori verbal negation depends on the tense marker. Kei te and i te become kāore + subject + i te + verb. I becomes kāore + subject + i + verb. E…ana becomes kāore + subject + e + verb + ana. Ka becomes kāore + subject + e + verb. Kua uses kāore anō … kia …, meaning “not yet.”

In te reo Māori, conjunctions connect clauses to form longer sentences. Common conjunctions include ā (“and”), engari (“but”), and heoi anō (“however” or “on the other hand”). These link positive and negative statements, contrast ideas, or add additional information. Heoi anō often introduces a contrasting point similar to “however.”

In te reo Māori, the idea of “because” is expressed with the phrase nā te mea, which links a result with its reason. It introduces the cause of something previously stated, creating a complex sentence. For example: Kāore harikoa a Rangi nā te mea kei te māuiui ia (“Rangi is not happy because he is sick”).

The discourse marker nō reira means “therefore” and introduces a result that follows from a previously stated idea. It contrasts with nā te mea (“because”), which explains the cause of something already mentioned. Nā te mea looks back to the reason, while nō reira points forward to the consequence.

Nā te mea means “because” and introduces the cause of something, while nō reira means “therefore” and introduces the result. Nā te mea looks back to explain why something happened, whereas nō reira points forward to the consequence that follows from what has just been said.

In te reo Māori, discourse markers such as heoi anō, nō reira, and nā te mea help organise conversation and connect ideas. They can function like conjunctions (“however,” “therefore,” “because”) but can also appear at the start or within sentences to guide the flow of speech, signal contrast, conclusions, or transitions in discourse.

In te reo Māori, mehemea (often shortened to mēnā) means “if” and introduces conditional sentences. It links a condition with a result, commonly using the pattern mehemea/mēnā … ka …. It can refer to past, present, future, or hypothetical situations and may appear at the beginning or middle of a sentence.

Another way to say “if” in Māori is ki te. Unlike mehemea/mēnā, ki te must be followed by a verb and usually refers to future or likely events. It often appears in the structure ki te … ka …. In contrast, mehemea/mēnā can describe past, present, future, or hypothetical situations.

In te reo Māori, ahakoa means “although” and links two ideas where the second is true despite expectations created by the first. It introduces a surprising contrast. For example: Ahakoa e ua ana, ka haere tātou ki te tātahi — although it is raining, we will go to the beach. It can appear at the start or in the middle of a sentence.

In te reo Māori, longer sentences can be created using conjunctions and discourse markers to connect ideas. Words like ā (and), engari (but), ahakoa (although), nā te mea (because), kātahi ka (then), nō reira (therefore), and heoi anō (however) link clauses, explain reasons, show contrast, or indicate sequence.

In te reo Māori, ki can indicate the tool or instrument used to perform an action. It corresponds to English “with” or “using.” For example, Ka tuhi ahau i te reta ki te pene means “I will write the letter with the pen.” The tool follows ki to show how the action is done.

In te reo Māori there are three common ways to talk about speaking: kōrero, mea, and kī. Kōrero describes the act of speaking without stating what was said. Mea reports what someone said indirectly. Kī is used to quote a person’s exact words. The word kī (with a macron) differs from ki (without one). The phrase e ai ki means “according to” and introduces reported sources, opinions, or traditional sayings.

In Māori, kī (with a macron) is used to quote someone directly. Another word, ki, appears in the phrase e ai ki, meaning “according to.” It introduces reported statements, sources, or sayings, such as news reports, people’s claims, or traditional proverbs. A related form, ki tā, expresses someone’s opinion rather than reporting their words. Thus e ai ki reports what someone said, while ki tā indicates what someone thinks.

In te reo Māori, ki can express personal feeling or preference using the pattern he pai … ki a …, meaning something is “good to” someone, or simply “someone likes something.” For example, He pai te waiata ki a au means “I like the song.” This structure can be used with people, things, or places. It can be negated with kāore e pai ki a… (“does not like”). The order can vary slightly, but the meaning remains the same. This pattern differs from possession sentences such as He pai tāku kawhe (“My coffee is good”).

In te reo Māori, negation depends on the type of sentence. Verbal sentences (those with verbs) are negated with kāore, for example Kāore ngā tamariki i te takaro (“The children are not playing”). Non-verbal sentences, such as those beginning with he or ko, are negated with ehara, for example Ehara te kurī i te pai (“The dog is not good”). In both cases the subject follows the negation, and i te often appears in present-tense negative forms.

In te reo Māori, he and ko sentences (non-verbal sentences) are both negated with ehara. For example, He maunga tērā (“That is a mountain”) becomes Ehara tērā i te maunga (“That is not a mountain”), and Ko te maunga tērā (“That is the mountain”) is negated the same way. Because both structures use ehara, the negation looks identical. The difference between he and ko is that he classifies something, while ko emphasizes or identifies it. However, in practice you can simply use ehara to negate either type.

At the beginning of a sentence ehara functions as a negation used to contradict he or ko statements, meaning “is not”. However, ehara alone can also act as an interjection expressing surprise, agreement, or emphasis, similar to “sure enough” or “indeed.” The idiom ehara ehara! is an emphatic affirmation meaning “absolutely.” Ehara can also contradict negative questions, meaning “on the contrary.”

Ehara normally functions as a negation meaning “not.” However, expressions such as ehara! or ehara, ehara! can be used colloquially as kīwaha, where the literal meaning shifts and the phrase expresses strong agreement or emphasis, similar to English idioms like “wicked,” “sick,” or “yeah, right.”

English “and” has three different uses that are expressed differently in te reo Māori. Ā joins two clauses (“I am happy and well”). Me joins nouns in a list (“fish and chips”). Rāua ko joins two people, while rātou ko joins three or more people in sentences.

Rāua refers to two people (not including the speaker or listener), while rātou refers to three or more. When naming people, Māori uses rāua ko or rātou ko. For “someone and I,” use māua ko without ahau. For three or more including the speaker, use mātou ko followed by each person’s name.

Te reo Māori distinguishes between possession and ownership. Kei a koe he pukapuka? asks if a book is with you (locative possession). He pukapuka āu? asks if you own a book (possessive). Negation differs: Kāore he pukapuka kei a au (none with me) versus Kāore āku pukapuka (I own none, using plural possessive).

Sentences starting with he are negated with kāore he, meaning "there are no...". For example "kāore he pene" (there are no pens). This is different from "kāore āku pene" (I have no pens).

Kāore + possessive expresses not having or owning something. Use kāore + ā/ō + pronoun + noun, depending on the a/ō category. The ā/ō is required before pronouns, and the noun is typically plural. For example: kāore ā rāua kurī — those two don’t have any dogs.

This lesson explains the difference between owning something and simply having it with you in te reo Māori. Ownership uses tā/ā and is negated with “kāore āku…”, while possession as location uses “kei a…”. Because kei is locative, it is negated like present actions using “kāore… i (te)…”. Thus, “kāore tō pukapuka i a au” means the book is not with me.

Te reo Māori uses various commands: gentle (kia), should (me), direct (e), and intense (passive). Prohibitions use kaua e + verb, with pronouns and objects possible. Kāti stops an ongoing action, taihoa delays, and kaua rawa forbids forever. Active objects use i, passives use e.

Kaua e is used for direct prohibitions (e.g. Kaua e oma – don’t run). Kei is used for warnings about possible consequences (e.g. Kei hinga – don’t fall). Kei te marks present tense, but kei alone signals warning. Often used in phrases like kia tūpato kei… or alongside kaua e to express “lest.”

Passive sentences describe actions done to something, using a verb with a passive suffix (e.g. pānuitia). The object marker (i/ki) disappears, and the agent is marked with e. To negate passives, use kāore…i te…. Passive commands use kaua e before the passive verb.

In Māori, asking “why” uses he aha with different particles for past (i…ai), present (e…ana, or e…nei for right now), and future (e…ai). To negate (“why didn’t/aren’t/won’t”), add kore: he aha [subject] i kore ai e [verb] (past), e kore ai e (future), or i kore ai e…ana (present).

In te reo Māori, "ka taea e" expresses ability (e.g., "Ka taea e au te tunu" – I can cook). Negation uses "kāore e taea e" for present/future ("can't") and "kāore i taea e" for past ("couldn't"). Examples: "Kāore e taea e au te pānui" (I can't read).