Verbs (doing words) = Tūmahi: Flash Cards

In Māori, it's common for related verbs and nouns to use the same word.
For example, 'kai' = 'food' or 'to eat.

Verbs have an active and a passive form. These are usually shown in the active form first with the passive ending in brackets, or if the ending changes the word, the whole version is shown.
E.g. to wash = horoi(-a). The active form is 'horoi' and passive form is 'horoia'.

The 'whaka-' prefix means to 'make or change something', and sometimes single verbs in English will have two versions in Māori. An example is 'to grow'. When a plant grows, the word if 'tipu'. When you grow a plant, the word if 'whakatipu', because you are making the plant grow.

include levels:
returnreturn
hoki(-a)
workwork
mahi(-a,-ngia)
drinkdrink
inu(-mia)
crycry
tangi(hia)
looklook
titiro
(tirohia)
sit/staysit/stay
noho
(-ia,nōhia,-ngia)
walkwalk
hīkoi(-tia)
stand/stopstand/stop
tū(-ria)
seesee
kite(-a)
gogo
haere
(-a,-hia,-tia)
runrun
oma(-kia)
singsing
waiata
(-hia,-tia)
listenlisten
whakarongo
(-hia,-na)
eateat
kai(-nga,-ngia)
speakspeak
kōrero
(-hia,-ngia,-tia)
restart

Hover to see the full list, or click to toggle.

beginner
go=haere (-a,-hia,-tia)
sit/stay=noho (-ia,nōhia,-ngia)
stand/stop=tū(-ria)
walk=hīkoi(-tia)
run=oma(-kia)
return=hoki(-a)
look=titiro (tirohia)
see=kite(-a)
eat=kai(-nga,-ngia)
drink=inu(-mia)
speak=kōrero (-hia,-ngia,-tia)
listen=whakarongo (-hia,-na)
work=mahi(-a,-ngia)
sing=waiata (-hia,-tia)
cry=tangi(hia)
back to resourcesback to lists