Flirting

1. He ātaahua rawa atu koe.

   he ā-ta-a-hu-a ra-wa a-tu koe

   You are very beautiful.

   Usage

   A gentle compliment expressing someone's beauty

   Grammar Note

   A basic Māori predicate sentence follows `He + adjective + subject`. `koe` is the second person singular pronoun.

2. E āta menemene ana koe.

   e ā-ta me-ne-me-ne a-na koe

   You are smiling gently.

   Usage

   Used to compliment someone's smile

   Grammar Note

   `E...ana` forms the continuous tense. `Menemene` (also `mene`, `memene`) is to smile, and `āta` adds "gently". ⚠ The subject is the person smiling (`koe`), not `māhunga` (the head).

3. Me inu tāua?

   me i-nu tā-u-a

   Shall we have a drink?

   Usage

   A casual invitation to share a drink together

   Grammar Note

   `Me + verb + tāua` proposes doing something together as a pair. Using `tāua` includes the listener in the suggestion.

4. He ngākau māhaki ōu karu.

   he ngā-kau mā-ha-ki ō-u ka-ru

   Your eyes are gentle and warm-hearted.

   Usage

   Used to compliment someone's eyes

   Grammar Note

   `ōu` is the o-class "your" for a plural possessed thing (it does not mean several owners). Eyes are plural, so `ōu` is used. `ngākau māhaki` means gentle heart.

5. Ka taea e au te noho tata ki a koe?

   ka tae-a e au te no-ho ta-ta ki a koe

   May I sit close to you?

   Usage

   Used to politely ask to sit near someone

   Grammar Note

   `Ka taea e au te...?` asks if the speaker can do something. It is a polite way to request permission.

6. Kōrero mai mō tō iwi?

   kō-re-ro mai mō tō i-wi

   Tell me about your tribe (iwi).

   Usage

   Used to show interest in someone's tribal origins, an important question for Māori

   Grammar Note

   `mai` is a directional particle indicating movement toward the speaker. `iwi` is the basic social unit of Māori society.

7. He tino atamai koe.

   he ti-no a-ta-mai koe

   You are very intelligent.

   Usage

   Used to compliment someone's intelligence

   Grammar Note

   `atamai` means intelligent or clever. `tino` intensifies it to mean very intelligent.

8. Me haere tāua?

   me hae-re tā-u-a

   Shall we go together?

   Usage

   Used to suggest going out or walking together

   Grammar Note

   `haere` is one of the most common Māori verbs meaning to go or travel. `Haere mai` (come here) is the greeting of welcome.

9. E hiahia ana au ki te kite anō i a koe.

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na au ki te ki-te a-nō i a koe

   I want to see you again.

   Usage

   Used when parting to express a wish to meet again

   Grammar Note

   `E hiahia ana au ki te...` expresses desire to do something. `anō` adds the meaning of again.

10. He tino ngākau māhaki koe.

    he ti-no ngā-kau mā-ha-ki koe

    You are very kind-hearted and gentle.

    Usage

    Used to praise someone's inner kindness and gentleness

    Grammar Note

    `ngākau` means heart or mind and combines with various adjectives to describe inner qualities. Māori culture values inner disposition highly.

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