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Kōrero: Te reo Māori – the Māori language

Ngā orokati i te reo Māori

T varies depending on the vowel that follows it.
Before A, E or O it is blunt, somewhere between an English T and D.
Before I and U it is sharp, more like an English T.

ta

te

ti

to

tu

taku

my

teka
 

dart

tika
 

to be correct

toka
 

rock

tuku
 

to release

tāku

my

tēpu
 

table

tīpare
 

headband

tōku
 

mine

tūru
 

chair

R is rolled.

ra

re

ri

ro

ru

rata

doctor or to like

rehe
 

wrinkle

rito
 

young centre
leaf of harakeke

roto
 

inside

ruku
 

dive

rātā

native tree

rēhia
 

enjoyment

rīwai
 

potato

rōpū
 

group

rūrū
 

handshake

Ng is pronounced as in ‘sing’.

nga

nge

ngi

ngo

ngu

ngata

satisfied

ngete
 

to urge on

ngiha
 

burning/fire

ngongo
 

to suck/suck up

ngutu
 

lips

Click boxes to hear pronunciation

He uaua ki ētahi kaikōrero reo Pākehā te whakahua tika i te  't’, i te ‘r’, me te 'ng’ o te reo Māori. Pāwhiritia ngā pouaka kia rongo ai koe i te whakahuatanga o ētahi kupu kei reira ēnei orokati e puta ana.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Basil Keane, Te reo Māori – the Māori language – The Māori language, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/interactive/41122/nga-orokati-i-te-reo-maori (accessed 25 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Rawinia Higgins rāua ko Basil Keane, i tāngia i te 30 September 2015, updated 1 September 2015.