Papakupu
Every kupu (word) Kupurā explains, in one place — how to say it, and what it means.
281 kupu and growing
Ahau
ah-hah-oo
me / myself
Ahi
ah-hee
fire
Ako
ah-kaw
learn
Ako anō
ah-kaw ah-naw
learn more
Aroha
ah-raw-hah
love / compassion
Aruhe
ah-roo-heh
fernroot
Atua
ah-too-ah
gods / spiritual beings
Awa
ah-wah
river
Haere atu rā
hah-eh-reh ah-too raa
go now / farewell
Haere tonu
hah-eh-reh taw-noo
keep going
Haka
hah-kah
ceremonial dance
Hākari
haa-kah-ree
feast
Hakuturi
hah-koo-too-ree
guardians of the forest
Hāngī
haa-ngee
earth oven feast
Hapori
hah-paw-ree
community
Hapū
hah-poo
sub-tribe
Harakeke
hah-rah-keh-keh
flax
Hau
hah-oo
wind
Hauora
hah-oo-aw-rah
wellbeing
He aratohu tautoko
heh ah-rah-taw-hoo tah-oo-taw-kaw
support guidance
He huarahi hei hono
heh hoo-ah-rah-hee heh-ee haw-naw
a way to connect
He kupuhipa hōu
heh koo-poo-hee-pah haw-oo
a new password
He māramatanga
heh maa-rah-mah-tah-ngah
an insight
He mihi
heh mee-hee
an acknowledgement
He pātai whakaaro
heh paa-tah-ee fah-kah-ah-raw
reflection prompt
He tirohanga
heh tee-raw-hah-ngah
an observation
He whakaū
heh fah-kah-oo
an affirmation
Hīnaki
hee-nah-kee
eel trap
Hinengaro
hee-neh-ngah-raw
mind
Hongi
haw-ngee
pressing of noses in greeting
Hononga
haw-naw-ngah
connection
Hōu
haw-oo
new
Hue
hoo-eh
gourd
Hui
hoo-ee
gathering / meeting
Īmēra
ee-may-rah
Īnanga
ee-nah-ngah
whitebait
Irāmutu
ee-raa-moo-too
nieces and nephews
Iwi
ee-wee
tribe
Kaiārahi
kah-ee-aa-rah-hee
guide
Kaimahi
kah-ee-mah-hee
worker
Kaimoana
kah-ee-maw-ah-nah
seafood
Kāinga
kaa-ee-ngah
home
Kaitiaki
kah-ee-tee-ah-kee
guardian
Kaitiakitanga
kah-ee-tee-ah-kee-tah-ngah
guardianship
Kaiwhakaari
kah-ee-fah-kah-ah-ree
performer
Kaiwhakahaere
kah-ee-fah-kah-hah-eh-reh
administrator
Kāore i taea
kaa-aw-reh ee tah-eh-ah
it could not be done
Kapa haka
kah-pah hah-kah
Māori performing arts
Karakia
kah-rah-kee-ah
prayer / incantation
Karanga
kah-rah-ngah
ceremonial call of welcome
Katoa
kah-taw-ah
everything / all
Kaupapa
kah-oo-pah-pah
purpose / topic
Kauri
kah-oo-ree
great forest tree
Kei kōnei rātou
keh-ee kaw-neh-ee raa-taw-oo
they are present here
Kererū
keh-reh-roo
wood pigeon
Kete
keh-teh
basket
Ki te kōrero noa
kee teh kaw-reh-raw naw-ah
in casual conversation
Ki tō kete
kee taw keh-teh
keep this
Kia puritia ki tō kete
kee-ah poo-ree-tee-ah kee taw keh-teh
keep this in your basket
Kia tūpato
kee-ah too-pah-taw
be careful
Kiri whakauka
kee-ree fah-kah-oo-kah
the story
Kō
kaw
digging stick
Ko wai kei konei
kaw wah-ee keh-ee kaw-neh-ee
who is present here
Kōauau
kaw-ah-oo-ah-oo
small flute
Koha
kaw-hah
gift / contribution
Kōiwi
kaw-ee-wee
bones of the dead
Kōkōrangi
kaw-kaw-rah-ngee
astronomy / the night sky
Kōrero
kaw-reh-raw
talk / story
Kōura
kaw-oo-rah
crayfish
Kua puritia
koo-ah poo-ree-tee-ah
kept
Kua takiuru koe
koo-ah tah-kee-oo-roo kaw-eh
you're signed in
Kuia
koo-ee-ah
elder woman
Kupu
koo-poo
word
Kupu o te rā
koo-poo aw teh raa
word of the day
Kupu pākehā
koo-poo paa-keh-haa
English words
Kupuhipa
koo-poo-hee-pah
password
Kurī
koo-ree
dog
Mahi
mah-hee
work
Makutu
mah-koo-too
harmful spell
Mana
mah-nah
authority / prestige
Manaakitanga
mah-nah-ah-kee-tah-ngah
care and hospitality
Manuhiri
mah-noo-hee-ree
visitor
Māra
maa-rah
garden
Marae
mah-rah-eh
communal meeting grounds
Marama
mah-rah-mah
month / moon
Maramataka
mah-rah-mah-tah-kah
Māori lunar calendar
Mātauranga
maa-tah-oo-rah-ngah
knowledge
Mate
mah-teh
illness / death
Maunga
mah-oo-ngah
mountain
Mauri
mah-oo-ree
life force
Meneti
meh-neh-tee
minutes
Mihi
mee-hee
greeting / acknowledgement
Mō mātou
maw maa-taw-oo
about us
Mō tēnei maramataka
maw tay-neh-ee mah-rah-mah-tah-kah
about this maramataka
Moana
maw-ah-nah
sea
Mokopuna
maw-kaw-poo-nah
grandchildren
Momo
maw-maw
category
Muka
moo-kah
flax fibre
Ngā
ngaa
the (plural)
Ngā atua me ngā tīpuna
ngaa ah-too-ah meh ngaa tee-poo-nah
all figures
Ngā hononga atua
ngaa haw-naw-ngah ah-too-ah
Atua connections
Ngā huarahi hono
ngaa hoo-ah-rah-hee haw-naw
ways to connect
Ngā kaha
ngaa kah-hah
biggest strengths
Ngā kaiwhakahaere
ngaa kah-ee-fah-kah-hah-eh-reh
the administrators
Ngā kaupapa katoa
ngaa kah-oo-pah-pah kah-taw-ah
all topics
Ngā kōrero katoa
ngaa kaw-reh-raw kah-taw-ah
the full story
Ngā mana
ngaa mah-nah
domains and influence
Ngā mātua
ngaa maa-too-ah
the parents
Ngā mea ora
ngaa meh-ah aw-rah
living things
Ngā mihi
ngaa mee-hee
thank you
Ngā mihi nui
ngaa mee-hee noo-ee
thank you very much
Ngā mokopuna
ngaa maw-kaw-poo-nah
the grandchildren
Ngā pō e toru tekau
ngaa paw eh taw-roo teh-kah-oo
all thirty nights
Ngā pūrākau
ngaa poo-raa-kah-oo
the traditional stories
Ngā pūrākau e hāngai ana
ngaa poo-raa-kah-oo eh haa-ngah-ee ah-nah
related stories
Ngā rauemi
ngaa rah-oo-eh-mee
the resources
Ngā roa katoa
ngaa raw-ah kah-taw-ah
any length
Ngā rū, ngā kaupeka
ngaa roo ngaa kah-oo-peh-kah
earthquakes and the seasons
Ngā taha
ngaa tah-hah
the aspects
Ngā taha o te ora
ngaa tah-hah aw teh aw-rah
aspects of life
Ngā taha o te rā
ngaa tah-hah aw teh raa
the aspects of the day
Ngā taha o te tangata
ngaa tah-hah aw teh tah-ngah-tah
aspects of self
Ngā taumata o kupurā
ngaa tah-oo-mah-tah aw koo-poo-raa
levels of access
Ngā tohu
ngaa taw-hoo
signs / presence
Ngā tohu whakaute
ngaa taw-hoo fah-kah-oo-teh
ways to show respect
Ngā tohutoro
ngaa taw-hoo-taw-raw
sources
Ngā tuhinga
ngaa too-hee-ngah
the notes
Ngā tūhono
ngaa too-haw-naw
the strands between you
Ngā uara
ngaa oo-ah-rah
values
Ngā uri
ngaa oo-ree
the descendants
Ngā wero
ngaa weh-raw
biggest challenges
Ngahere
ngah-heh-reh
forest
Ngākau
ngaa-kah-oo
heart
Ngārara
ngaa-rah-rah
reptiles / creeping things
Nō hea koe
naw heh-ah kaw-eh
where you are from
Noa
naw-ah
free from restriction
Oneone
aw-neh-aw-neh
soil / earth
Pānui
paa-noo-ee
reading
Papakāinga
pah-pah-kaa-ee-ngah
home base / ancestral home
Pārua
paa-roo-ah
contact
Pātai
paa-tah-ee
question
Pātaka
paa-tah-kah
food storehouse
Pāua
paa-oo-ah
abalone
Pekapeka
peh-kah-peh-kah
bat
Pepeha
peh-peh-hah
tribal introduction
Pēpi
pay-pee
baby
Pēwhea
pay-feh-ah
about
Pikopiko
pee-kaw-pee-kaw
young fern shoots
Pipi
pee-pee
small shellfish
Pīwakawaka
pee-wah-kah-wah-kah
fantail
Pō
paw
night
Pōwhiri
paw-fee-ree
welcome ceremony
Puha
poo-hah
sow thistle greens
Pūkeko
poo-keh-kaw
swamp hen
Pūkete
poo-keh-teh
account
Pūmanawa
poo-mah-nah-wah
natural talent
Pūrākau
poo-raa-kah-oo
traditional story
Rā
raa
day
Rāhui
raa-hoo-ee
temporary prohibition on gathering
Rangatiratanga
rah-ngah-tee-rah-tah-ngah
self-determination
Rangi
rah-ngee
sky
Rārangi tohutoro
raa-rah-ngee taw-hoo-taw-raw
reference list
Rauemi
rah-oo-eh-mee
resources
Raupō
rah-oo-paw
bulrush
Reo
reh-aw
language
Ringawera
ree-ngah-weh-rah
kitchen workers
Roa
raw-ah
length
Rohe
raw-heh
region
Rongoā
raw-ngaw-aa
traditional medicine
Taha
tah-hah
aspect / side
Taiao
tah-ee-ah-aw
natural world
Takiuru
tah-kee-oo-roo
sign in
Tamariki
tah-mah-ree-kee
children
Tāngata
taa-ngah-tah
people
Tangi
tah-ngee
mourning / funeral
Tangihanga
tah-ngee-hah-ngah
funeral rites
Tangohia te taupānga
tah-ngaw-hee-ah teh tah-oo-paa-ngah
get the app
Taniwha
tah-nee-fah
powerful water being
Taonga
tah-aw-ngah
treasure / something precious
Taonga pūoro
tah-aw-ngah poo-aw-raw
traditional musical instruments
Tāpiri
taa-pee-ree
add
Tāpiri i tō iwi
taa-pee-ree ee taw ee-wee
add your tribe
Tapu
tah-poo
sacred / restricted
Tauaru
tah-oo-ah-roo
follow
Taumata
tah-oo-mah-tah
level
Taupānga
tah-oo-paa-ngah
app
Tautoko
tah-oo-taw-kaw
support
Te ahi
teh ah-hee
the fire
Te ara
teh ah-rah
the pathway
Te hapori
teh hah-paw-ree
the community
Te hau
teh hah-oo
the wind
Te hītori
teh hee-taw-ree
the history
Te huringa o te marama
teh hoo-ree-ngah aw teh mah-rah-mah
the lunar cycle
Te ira tangata
teh ee-rah tah-ngah-tah
the human element
Te kāhui
teh kaa-hoo-ee
the assembly
Te kāwai
teh kaa-wah-ee
Line of descent
Te kore
teh kaw-reh
the void — all potential
Te kōrero
teh kaw-reh-raw
the story
Te moana
teh maw-ah-nah
the ocean
Te momo hononga
teh maw-maw haw-naw-ngah
kind of relationship
Te ngahere
teh ngah-heh-reh
the forest
Te ngākau o kupurā
teh ngaa-kah-oo aw koo-poo-raa
the heart of Kupurā
Te pō
teh paw
the long night
Te pō kua tīpakohia
teh paw koo-ah tee-pah-kaw-hee-ah
selected night
Te pō o nāianei
teh paw aw naa-ee-ah-neh-ee
tonight
Te pō o tēnei rā
teh paw aw tay-neh-ee raa
tonight
Te rā
teh raa
the day
Te reo
teh reh-aw
the language
Te roa o te pānui
teh raw-ah aw teh paa-noo-ee
the length of the reading
Te taiao
teh tah-ee-ah-aw
the natural world
Te tīmatanga
teh tee-mah-tah-ngah
the beginning
Te wā
teh waa
the time
Te whakapā
teh fah-kah-paa
getting in touch
Te whakapapa
teh fah-kah-pah-pah
the genealogy
Te whakatupuranga whā
teh fah-kah-too-poo-rah-ngah faa
the fourth generation
Te whenua
teh feh-noo-ah
the land
Tēnā koe
tay-naa kaw-eh
greetings to you
Tī kōuka
tee kaw-oo-kah
cabbage tree
Tihei mauri ora
tee-heh-ee mah-oo-ree aw-rah
the sneeze of life — the call that life has begun
Tikanga
tee-kah-ngah
custom / protocol
Tinana
tee-nah-nah
body
Tīpuna
tee-poo-nah
ancestors
Tipuna
tee-poo-nah
ancestor
Tiritiri
tee-ree-tee-ree
share
Tirohia
tee-raw-hee-ah
look at
Tirohia tō īmēra
tee-raw-hee-ah taw ee-may-rah
check your email
Tītī
tee-tee
muttonbird
Tō kōrero
taw kaw-reh-raw
your message
Tō mauri o te rā
taw mah-oo-ree aw teh raa
your daily energy
Tō pānui whetū
taw paa-noo-ee feh-too
your star reading
Tō pūkete
taw poo-keh-teh
your account
Tohorā
taw-haw-raa
whale
Tohu
taw-hoo
sign
Tohunga
taw-hoo-ngah
expert / priest
Toi
taw-ee
art
Tōtara
taw-tah-rah
tall forest tree
Tūāpapa
too-aa-pah-pah
foundation
Tuatara
too-ah-tah-rah
ancient reptile of Aotearoa
Tuhinga
too-hee-ngah
writings / notes
Tūhono
too-haw-naw
connect
Tūhonoa
too-haw-naw-ah
connect
Tūī
too-ee
native honeyeater bird
Tukua
too-koo-ah
send
Tuna
too-nah
eel
Tūpāpaku
too-paa-pah-koo
the body of the deceased
Tupuna
too-poo-nah
ancestor
Tūpuna
too-poo-nah
ancestors
Ua
oo-ah
rain
Uara
oo-ah-rah
values
Umu
oo-moo
earth oven
Urupā
oo-roo-paa
burial ground
Utu
oo-too
reciprocity
Wā
waa
time / period
Wāhanga
waa-hah-ngah
share
Waiata
wah-ee-ah-tah
song
Wairua
wah-ee-roo-ah
spirit
Wairuatanga
wah-ee-roo-ah-tah-ngah
spirituality
Waka
wah-kah
canoe
Wānanga
waa-nah-ngah
learning / deep discussion
Weka
weh-kah
native woodhen
Wero
weh-raw
ritual challenge
Wētā
way-taa
large flightless insect
Whaikōrero
fah-ee-kaw-reh-raw
formal speech
Whakaaro
fah-kah-ah-raw
reflect / thought
Whakaaro mai
fah-kah-ah-raw mah-ee
send feedback
Whakaaro nui
fah-kah-ah-raw noo-ee
deep thought
Whakahua
fah-kah-hoo-ah
pronunciation
Whakamahi
fah-kah-mah-hee
how to use it today
Whakapā
fah-kah-paa
contact
Whakapapa
fah-kah-pah-pah
family tree / lineage
Whakarongo
fah-kah-raw-ngaw
listen
Whakataukī
fah-kah-tah-oo-kee
proverb
Whakawhanaungatanga
fah-kah-fah-nah-oo-ngah-tah-ngah
building relationships
Whānau
faa-nah-oo
family
Whare
fah-reh
house
Whare wānanga
fah-reh waa-nah-ngah
house of learning
Wharekai
fah-reh-kah-ee
dining hall
Wharenui
fah-reh-noo-ee
meeting house
Wheke
feh-keh
octopus
Whenua
feh-noo-ah
land
Whetū
feh-too
star