Contacts & SNS

1. He aha tō nama waea?

   he a-ha tō na-ma wae-a

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   Used to ask someone for their phone number

   Grammar Note

   `waea` comes from English `wire` and means phone in Māori. `He aha...?` is the basic question form meaning `What is...?`.

2. He aha tō wāhitau īmēra?

   he a-ha tō wā-hi-tau ī-mē-ra

   What is your email address?

   Usage

   Used to ask someone for their email address

   Grammar Note

   `īmēra` borrows English `email` adapted to Māori phonology. Māori avoids consonant clusters by inserting vowels.

3. Kei a koe te WhatsApp?

   kei a koe te WhatsApp

   Do you have WhatsApp?

   Usage

   Used to ask if someone uses WhatsApp

   Grammar Note

   `Kei a koe` expresses possession meaning you have. Personal possession uses `kei a` + personal pronoun.

4. Me noho tūhono tāua.

   me no-ho tū-ho-no tā-u-a

   Let us stay in touch.

   Usage

   Used when suggesting to stay in touch after parting

   Grammar Note

   `tāua` is the Māori inclusive dual first person meaning `you and I`. Māori distinguishes number: singular, dual, and plural.

5. Ka kite anō tāua.

   ka ki-te a-nō tā-u-a

   We will meet again.

   Usage

   A common farewell expression meaning see you again

   Grammar Note

   `Ka kite anō` is the most commonly heard Māori farewell in New Zealand, equivalent to `See you later`.

6. Ko tēnei tōku wāhitau waea.

   ko tē-nei tō-ku wā-hi-tau wae-a

   This is my phone contact.

   Usage

   Used when sharing your own contact information

   Grammar Note

   Māori has two possession classes: `o-class` (passive/inalienable) and `a-class` (active/alienable). Phone uses `tōku` (o-class).

7. Kei a koe te Facebook?

   kei a koe te Facebook

   Do you have Facebook?

   Usage

   Used to suggest connecting on Facebook in NZ

   Grammar Note

   In NZ, Facebook is popular among older adults while Instagram and TikTok are popular with youth. Māori communities actively use social media.

8. He aha tō Instagram?

   he a-ha tō Instagram

   What is your Instagram?

   Usage

   Used to ask for someone's Instagram account

   Grammar Note

   `He aha tō...?` is a versatile question form meaning `What is your...?` It can be used to ask about any social media account.

9. Ka taea e au te waea atu ki a koe?

   ka tae-a e au te wae-a a-tu ki a koe

   Can I call you?

   Usage

   Used to ask permission to call someone

   Grammar Note

   Māori is verb-initial (VSO). `Ka taea e au` is a potential/passive expression. `atu` is a directional particle moving away from the speaker.

10. Me huri ō tāua kōrero whakapā.

    me hu-ri ō tā-u-a kō-re-ro wha-ka-pā

    Let us exchange our contact information.

    Usage

    Used to suggest exchanging contact information

    Grammar Note

    `kōrero` means speech or information; `whakapā` means to contact or connect. Together they form `contact information`.

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