Dating Apps

1. I kite au i tō kōrero hōtaka i runga i tētahi tono tūtaki aroha.

   i ki-te au i tō kō-re-ro hō-ta-ka i ru-nga i tē-ta-hi to-no tū-ta-ki a-ro-ha

   I saw your profile on a dating app.

   Usage

   Standard opening line on a dating app

   Grammar Note

   Māori has verb-initial (VSO) word order; "I kite" marks the past perfective

2. He hiahia āu ki te tūhono?

   he hi-a-hi-a ā-u ki te tū-ho-no

   Would you like to match / connect?

   Usage

   Inviting someone to connect on the app

   Grammar Note

   "He hiahia" is a nominal question structure meaning "is there a desire"

3. He aha tāu e kimi ana i tēnei tono?

   he a-ha tā-u e ki-mi a-na i tē-nei to-no

   What are you looking for on this app?

   Usage

   Asking what someone is seeking on the app

   Grammar Note

   "e ... ana" is the Māori present progressive construction

4. He hou ahau ki konei — pēhea te mahi?

   he hou a-hau ki ko-nei — pē-he-a te ma-hi

   I'm new here — how does it work?

   Usage

   Asking how the app works as a new user

   Grammar Note

   "pēhea" is the Māori question word meaning "how"

5. Ka taea e tāua te kōrero ataata i mua i tō tūtakitanga?

   ka tae-a e tā-u-a te kō-re-ro a-ta-a-ta i mu-a i tō tū-ta-ki-ta-nga

   Can we video chat before meeting?

   Usage

   Proposing a video call before an in-person meeting

   Grammar Note

   "tāua" is the Māori dual inclusive "we two (you and I)"

6. Ki hea tāua e tūtaki ai mō tā tāua tūtaki tuatahi?

   ki he-a tā-u-a e tū-ta-ki ai mō tā tā-u-a tū-ta-ki tu-a-ta-hi

   Where would you like to meet for our first date?

   Usage

   Asking where to meet for the first date

   Grammar Note

   "tuatahi" means "first" in Māori, used as an ordinal

7. I pai ki ahau tā tāua kōrero — he hiahia āu ki te tūtaki?

   i pai ki a-hau tā tā-u-a kō-re-ro — he hi-a-hi-a ā-u ki te tū-ta-ki

   I enjoyed chatting — want to meet up?

   Usage

   Suggesting to meet up after enjoyable conversation

   Grammar Note

   "pai ki" means "to like/enjoy" in Māori

8. He pai tō hōtaka / ōu whakaahua!

   he pai tō hō-ta-ka / ō-u wha-ka-a-hu-a

   You have a great profile / nice photos!

   Usage

   Complimenting someone's profile or photos

   Grammar Note

   "pai" is a versatile Māori adjective meaning "good/nice/beautiful"

9. E toro ana ahau mō tētahi wiki — he hiahia āu ki te tūtaki?

   e to-ro a-na a-hau mō tē-ta-hi wi-ki — he hi-a-hi-a ā-u ki te tū-ta-ki

   I'm visiting for a week — would you like to meet?

   Usage

   Mentioning a brief visit while proposing to meet

   Grammar Note

   "wiki" is borrowed from English "week"; "e ... ana" marks the progressive aspect

10. E whakaaro ana ahau he pai rawa atu tō tāua hāngai!

    e wha-ka-a-ro a-na a-hau he pai ra-wa a-tu tō tā-u-a hā-ngai

    I think we're a good match!

    Usage

    Expressing that you feel you're a good match

    Grammar Note

    "rawa atu" is an intensifier meaning "very/truly"; "tāua" is the dual inclusive pronoun

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