Te Reo Māori vocabulary
Select a category and review the vocab, try out the flashcards, or play the matching game.
When an English word or a picture is shown, say the Māori kupu to yourself, and when the Māori kupu is shown, just say it in Māori. This will help train your brain to be thinking in Māori, rather than constantly translating.
Animals = Ngā Kararehe
Names of animals.
Beach = Te Tātahi
Words for things at the beach and surroundings.
Birds = Ngā Manu
Native and endemic birds. (Although manu is a broader concept in te reo)
Body = Te Tinana
Parts of the Human Body.
Bugs = Ngā Ngārara
Insects and other small creatures.
Category A
A memory device to help remember the A category.
Category O
A memory device to help remember the O category.
Celebrations = Ngā Whakanui
Kupu for birthdays and holidays.
Clothing = Ngā Kākahu
Clothes and other wearables.
Colours = Ngā Tae
Basic list of colours.
Days (loan) = Ngā Rā o Te Wiki
Weekday names (loan).
Days = Ngā Rā o Te Wiki
Weekday names.
Face = Te Kanohi
Parts of the face.
Family = Te Whānau
Words for family members.
Fish and Shellfish = Ngā Kaimoana
A variety of seafood (fish and shellfish)
Food = Ngā Kai
Common foods.
Fruit = Ngā Huarakau
Common fruits.
Gods = Ngā Atua Māori
Māori gods and spiritual beings.
Greetings and Farewells = Ngā Mihi
Basic greetings and farewells.
House = Te Whare
Rooms and parts of the house.
How are you? = Kei te pēhea koe?
Words to use in replying to 'Kei te pēhea koe?' (How are you?)
Ingredients = Ngā Kai Whakauru
Various cooking ingredients.
Locations (relative) = Ngā Wahi
Relative locations of things and people.
Mealtime = Te Wā Kai
Words for different meals, and other words related to eating.
Meat = Ngā Mīti
Common types of meat.
Months (loan) = Ngā Marama (kupu mino)
Months of the year, based on the English month names.
Months (traditional) = Ngā Marama
Ngā Marama o te Tau, months of the year, using the traditional Māori calendar.
Natural World = Te Ao Tūroa
Words for natural features.
Numbers = Ngā Tau
Numbers, with 3 levels to choose from.
Occupations = Ngā Mahi
Different occupations and work roles.
People = Ngā Tāngata
Relatives and other people.
Preparing Food = Whakarite Kai
Words associated with food preparation and cooking.
Pronouns = Ngā Tūpou
Personal pronouns.
Questions = Ngā Pātai
Practising some common questions.
Sayings = Ngā Whakataukī
Expressions of wisdom, wit, and common-sense.
Shapes = Ngā Āhuahanga
Different shapes.
Sports = Ngā Hākinakina
Sports are very popular in Aotearoa. How many do you know?
Technology = Te Hangarau
Various elements of modern technology.
This, that, these, those = Tēnei me ērā atu
Talking about things near and far.
Time = Te Wā
Time-related kupu.
Town = Te Tāone
Words for buildings and other features of the town.
Vegetables = Ngā Huawhenua
Common vegetables.
Verbs (doing words) = Tūmahi
Some common verbs (doing words).
Weather = Te Huarere
Asking and speaking about the weather.