Numbers

1. tahi, rua, toru, whā, rima

   ta-hi, ru-a, to-ru, whā, ri-ma

   One, two, three, four, five

   Usage

   Basic numbers from one to five

   Grammar Note

   Māori numerals belong to the Polynesian family and share similarities with Hawaiian and Samoan. The macron in `whā` indicates a long vowel.

2. ono, whitu, waru, iwa, tekau

   o-no, whi-tu, wa-ru, i-wa, te-kau

   Six, seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Numbers from six to ten

   Grammar Note

   `tekau` means ten and is the base for compound numbers. `mā` connects units: `tekau mā tahi` (11).

3. rau

   rau

   One hundred

   Usage

   Used to express one hundred

   Grammar Note

   `rau` means hundred. Combine with numerals: `rua rau` (200), `toru rau` (300).

4. mano

   ma-no

   One thousand

   Usage

   Used to express one thousand

   Grammar Note

   `mano` means thousand. Combine: `rua mano` (2000). This is distinct from Hawaiian `mano` meaning shark.

5. E hia?

   e hi-a

   How many? How much?

   Usage

   The most basic question for quantity or price

   Grammar Note

   `E hia?` is the most basic Māori question for quantities. The same expression asks for both count and price.

6. haurua

   hau-ru-a

   Half

   Usage

   Used to express half a quantity

   Grammar Note

   `haurua` is the fraction prefix `hau-` plus `rua` (two), meaning one half. It can be used in fractional expressions.

7. maha

   ma-ha

   Many/much

   Usage

   Used to express a large quantity

   Grammar Note

   `maha` is an adjective/adverb meaning many or numerous. Used as: `He maha ngā tāngata` (there are many people).

8. ruarua noa

   ru-a-ru-a no-a

   Just a few

   Usage

   Used to express a very small quantity

   Grammar Note

   `ruarua noa` is the reduplication of `rua` (two) plus `noa` (just/only), meaning just a few.

9. tekau mā tahi, tekau mā rua

   te-kau mā ta-hi, te-kau mā ru-a

   Eleven, twelve

   Usage

   Shows how to form compound numbers above ten

   Grammar Note

   `mā` is the numerical conjunction meaning and. `tekau mā tahi` (11), `tekau mā rua` (12). Twenty is `rua tekau`.

10. E hia ngā tāra?

    e hi-a ngā tā-ra

    How many dollars?

    Usage

    Used to ask about prices in NZ dollars

    Grammar Note

    `tāra` borrows from English `dollar`. New Zealand uses the NZD. The subunit is `heneti` (cent).

11. rua tekau mā rima

    ru-a te-kau mā ri-ma

    Twenty-five

    Usage

    Shows how to say compound numbers like 25

    Grammar Note

    Numbers above twenty: `rua tekau` (20), `toru tekau` (30). `rua tekau mā rima` makes 25.

12. Kotahi anake.

    ko-ta-hi a-na-ke

    Just one only.

    Usage

    Used to emphasize that there is just one

    Grammar Note

    `kotahi` is the emphatic form of `tahi` (one) meaning the only one or singular. `anake` adds the meaning of only or alone.

13. E rua tekau mā whitu ōku tau

    e ru-a te-kau mā whi-tu ō-ku tau

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer with your age. Swap the number to give any other age.

    Grammar Note

    Numbers in the twenties are "rua tekau" (20) + "mā" + the unit. The particle "e" precedes numerals 2-9 used as a predicate. "Tau" = year/age, and "ōku" is the first-person singular possessive used with plural possessions.

14. Ka rua tekau mā waru ōku tau i tēnei tau

    ka ru-a te-kau mā wa-ru ō-ku tau i tē-nei tau

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Used to state the age you reach in the current year.

    Grammar Note

    Sentence-initial "ka" marks an event about to happen and contrasts with present-tense "e". "Tau" covers both "year" and "age", which is why the same word appears twice.

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