Useful Phrases

1. Nāku i hanga tēnei taupānga

   nā-ku i ha-nga tē-nei tau-pā-nga

   I made this app

   Usage

   Introduce the app in Māori

   Grammar Note

   Māori is a Polynesian VSO language. "Nāku" (by me) is the agent preposition

2. Kāore he utu mō tēnei taupānga

   kā-o-re he u-tu mō tē-nei tau-pā-nga

   This app is free

   Usage

   Explain the app is free

   Grammar Note

   "Kāore he" (there is no) + "utu" (payment/cost) = "kāore he utu" (no cost/free). The negative existential is Kāore he … (as in Kāore he hono in the Internet & WiFi category)

3. Whakamātau tango

   wha-ka-mā-tau ta-ngo

   Please try downloading it

   Usage

   Encourage someone to download the app

   Grammar Note

   "Whaka-" (causative) + "mātau" (knowledge) = "whakamātau" (to try/test)

4. He Hapanihi ahau

   I'm Japanese

   Usage

   Introduce your nationality

   Grammar Note

   "He + noun" is the Māori indefinite predicate. "Ahau" (I) is the subject

5. He tūruhi ahau

   I'm a traveler

   Usage

   Identify yourself as a traveler

   Grammar Note

   "He + noun + pronoun" gives "I am a …". tūruhi = tourist/traveler (the same word as in the Visa & Immigration category pane uruwhenua tūruhi). kaiwhakatere means navigator/steerer, so it is not used

6. E haere ana ahau ko au anō

   e hae-re a-na a-hau ko au a-nō

   I'm traveling alone

   Usage

   Tell others you are traveling solo

   Grammar Note

   "Ko au anō" (just me/by myself) expresses solitude in Māori

7. Ko tēnei tōku wā tuatahi ki konei

   ko tē-nei tō-ku wā tu-a-ta-hi ki ko-nei

   It's my first time here

   Usage

   Express that this is your first visit

   Grammar Note

   "Wā" (time/period) + "tuatahi" (first) = "wā tuatahi" (first time)

8. Ka taea e au te tango whakaahua?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Ask for permission to take a photo

   Grammar Note

   "Ka taea" (can be done/is it possible?) is the Māori permission-seeking form

9. Ka taea te tango whakaahua tahi tāua?

   ka tae-a te ta-ngo wha-ka-a-hu-a ta-hi tā-u-a

   Shall we take a photo together?

   Usage

   Suggest taking a photo together

   Grammar Note

   Māori has dual pronouns. "Tāua" = we two (speaker + listener) — a Polynesian feature

10. Tēnā koa, mātaihia te QR code

    tē-nā ko-a, mā-tai-hi-a te QR code

    Please scan the QR code

    Usage

    Ask someone to scan the QR code

    Grammar Note

    "Tēnā koa" is the polite request word in Māori (as in the Basic Words category). mātaihia is a passive imperative

11. Kaua e tinihanga mai ki ahau

    Don't cheat me / Stop ripping me off

    Usage

    Used to protest being cheated or overcharged

    Grammar Note

    "Kaua e" is the Māori prohibitive. "Tinihanga" means trickery/deception in Māori

12. Kaua e whakaiti mai ki ahau

    Don't underestimate me / Don't look down on me

    Usage

    Used when someone underestimates or disrespects you

    Grammar Note

    "Whakaiti" = whaka- (causative) + iti (small) — to make small/belittle someone

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