Keywords for common Māori words
To celebrate Māori Language Week here in Aotearoa (New Zealand), here's some mnemonics to help you learn 25 common words in te reo. These use the keyword mnemonic. Keywords are written in italics.
aroha (love), an arrow in the heart
awa (river), a water flowing
hīkoi (walk), hike
hui (gathering, meeting), a lot of hooey is spoken at meetings!
iti (small), itty bitty
iwi (tribe), I and we make a tribe
kai (food), food for the Kaiser
karakia (prayer), no prayer against karate
kaumatua (elder), it's always calm out for the elders
mahi (work or activity) Ma and he work hard
manuhiri (guests, visitors), Get a menu here for guests
moana (sea), A moaner on the sea
motu (island), The island has a mob too
nui (large, many, big), Many big things sound new
puku (belly, stomach), Poke the stomach
taihoa (to delay, to wait), We can delay if you tie the hoer
tama (son, young man), The young man said, Ta, Ma
tamāhine (daughter), He gave his daughter a tomato
tipuna/ tupuna (ancestor ), Tip one for the ancestor
wahine (woman, wife), What he knew about the woman
wai (water), Why water?
waiata (song or chant), Why utter a song?
whaikōrero (the art and practise of speech-making ), Fight corny speeches
whānau (extended family), My family is far now
whenua (land, homeland), When you come home to the land.
You can see more common Māori words at MāoriLanguage.net
