Using Māori greetings and phrases adds warmth, respect, and cultural connection to your messages. This page gives you simple examples you can use every day, along with praise phrase stickers to brighten up your communication.
Enhancing your communication with Māori greetings and phrases can enrich interactions in both personal and professional settings. Incorporating these expressions fosters cultural appreciation and inclusivity. For example, starting an email with “Kia ora” (Hello) or “Tēnā koe” (Dear Sir/Madam) adds a personal touch, while closing with “Ngā mihi” (Regards) or “Ngā manaakitanga” (With best wishes) conveys warmth and respect.
Greetings
| English | Te Reo Māori |
|---|---|
| Dear Sir/Madam (formal) | Kei te rangatira, tēnā koe |
| Dear Emma (Name) | Tēnā koe, e Emma |
| Dear friend (informal) | Tēnā koe e hoa |
| Good morning | Ata mārie, mōrena |
| Dear everybody | Tēnā tātou |
| Hello/Hi | Kia ora |
| Hello/Hi (Name) | Kia ora, e (Name) |
| How are you? | Kei te pēhea koe? |
Endings
| English | Te Reo Māori |
|---|---|
| Yours sincerely (Your name) | Nāku noa, nā (Your name) |
| Yours faithfully (Your name) | Nāku, nā (Your name) |
| That is all for now | Heoi anō tāku mō nāianei |
| See you (again) | Ka kite (anō) |
| With best wishes | Ngā manaakitanga |
| Regards | Ngā mihi |
| Thanks | Kia ora |
| Many thanks | Kia ora rawa atu |
| All the best | Noho ora mai |
| See you tomorrow | Hei āpōpō |
| Stay well | Noho ora mai |
| Many blessings | Ngā manaakitanga |
| Have a good day | Kia pai tō rā |
| Have a good weekend | Kia pai tō mutunga wiki |
| Merry Christmas | Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete |
| Happy New Year | Ngā mihi o te tau hou |
| Easter Greetings | Ngā mihi o Te Aranga |
Other Phrases
| English | Te Reo Māori |
|---|---|
| Send him/her an email | Tukuna he īmera ki a ia |
| I would like to meet with you. | Me hui tahi tāua. |
| I would like to meet with you all. | Me hui tahi tātou. |
| Shall I meet you (one person) for lunch? | Me haere tāua ki te tina? |
| Shall we (more than one person) meet for lunch? | Me haere tātou ki te tina? |
| Would you like a coffee? | He kawhe māu? |
| Would you like a tea? | He tī māu? |
| Would you like a water? | He wai māu? |
| Sugar? Milk? | He huka? He miraka? |
| Where? | Ki hea? |
| At the marae? | Ki te marae? |
| I will call past your office | Ka peka au ki tō tari. |
| Meet me at the Library. | Me tūtaki tāua ki Te Pātaka Kōrero. |
| I am teaching until 1pm. | Kei te whakaako au ki te kotahi karaka. |
| My computer is broken. | Kua te pakaru taku rorohiko. |
| The internet is slow today. | He pōturi rawa te ipurangi i tēnei rā. |
| Is (name) there (telephone) | Kei konā a (name)? |
| Yes, one moment, please | Āe, taihoa ake nei |
| Is (name) in (office) | Kei konei a (name)? |
| Sorry, s/he is in a meeting. | Kāo, kei te hui ia. |
| Sorry, s/he is in a class. | Kāo, kei te whakaako ia. |
| Yes, but unfortunately s/he is busy at the moment. | Āe, engari kāore ia i te wātea i tēnei wā. |
| The printer is out of paper. | Kua pau te pepa i te mīhini tā. |
| Do you have a pen I can borrow? | He pene tāhau? |
| Yes, I have a pen. | Āe, he pene āku. |