Café & Drinks

1. Tukua mai he wai māori

   tu-ku-a mai he wai mā-o-ri

   Please give me fresh / natural water

   Usage

   Requesting fresh water

   Grammar Note

   wai māori literally means "natural water" (fresh, uncontaminated)

2. He aha tāu hiahia inu?

   he a-ha tā-u hi-a-hi-a i-nu

   What would you like to drink?

   Usage

   Taking a drink order or offering someone a drink

   Grammar Note

   hiahia is a verb expressing strong desire or want

3. Homai he kawhe

   ho-mai he ka-whe

   Please give me a coffee

   Usage

   Ordering coffee — NZ has a very rich café culture

   Grammar Note

   homai is an imperative with directional "give to me here"

4. Kāore au e inu waipiro

   kā-o-re au e i-nu wai-pi-ro

   I don't drink alcohol

   Usage

   Declining alcohol politely

   Grammar Note

   waipiro is a compound of wai (water) + piro (foul/smelly)

5. He tī otaota

   he tī o-tao-ta

   Herbal tea

   Usage

   Talking about traditional Māori herbal teas

   Grammar Note

   "Tī otaota" is herbal tea (example: "He tī otaota mā kōrua?" = Would you two like herbal tea?). "Tī" is a loan from English "tea". ⚠ "Māhoe" is one particular native tree (whiteywood), or the colour purple — not herbs in general

6. Ka reka!

   ka re-ka

   Delicious! It's good!

   Usage

   Exclaiming that something tastes delicious

   Grammar Note

   ka + adjective creates evaluative or exclamatory expressions

7. Taku inu tino pai

   ta-ku i-nu ti-no pai

   My favorite drink

   Usage

   Talking about your favorite drink

   Grammar Note

   taku is the a-class "my", used for things you choose or acquire, such as a drink

8. He nui rawa atu

   he nui ra-wa a-tu

   That's too much

   Usage

   Saying that someone poured too much drink

   Grammar Note

   rawa atu is an adverbial phrase meaning "too much / excessively"

9. Homai anō

   ho-mai a-nō

   Please give me another / one more

   Usage

   Asking for another drink informally

   Grammar Note

   anō is an adverb meaning "again / another time"

10. Tino pai tēnā

    ti-no pai tē-nā

    That is very good

    Usage

    Expressing that a drink is very good

    Grammar Note

    tino is an intensifying adverb meaning "very / truly"

11. Te wai wera

    Hot water

    Usage

    To ask for hot water

12. Te wai pātara

    Bottled water

    Usage

    To ask for sealed bottled water

Browse all TravelPhrases languages