Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

karanga

1. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to call, call out, shout, summon.

Ka karangahia e mātau te ingoa, ka whai haere mai i a mātau (HP 1991:20). / When we called its name it would follow us.

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) formal call, ceremonial call, welcome call, call - a ceremonial call of welcome to visitors onto a marae, or equivalent venue, at the start of a pōwhiri. The term is also used for the responses from the visiting group to the tangata whenua ceremonial call. Karanga follow a format which includes addressing and greeting each other and the people they are representing and paying tribute to the dead, especially those who have died recently. The purpose of the occasion is also addressed. Skilled kaikaranga are able to use eloquent language and metaphor and to encapsulate important information about the group and the purpose of the visit.

Kātahi ka pā te karanga, “Haere mai! Haere mai!” (JPS 1929:17). / Then the call went out, "Welcome! Welcome!"

Show example

Hide example

See also kaikaranga

karanga rua

1. (noun) someone related through two different lines, standing in a double relationship.

Ko ōna mātua ko Hore rāua ko Kahurimu. Hei irāmutu a ia mā Te Rauangaanga, arā, ka noho karanga rua ai rāua ko Pōtatau Te Wherowhero (TTR 1990:70). / His parents were Hore and Kahurimu. He was the nephew of Te Rau-anga-anga and he and Pōtatau Te Wherowhero were related in two ways.

Show example

Hide example

See also karangarua

tohu karanga

1. (noun) exclamation mark.

kupu karanga

1. (noun) password - especially a verbal one.

I whakaaturia e ia te kupu karanga mō te pā kia horoa ai taua pā. / He divulged the password for the fort so that fort would fall.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kupu whakahipa, kupuuru, kupuhipa, kupu muna

karanga maha

1. (noun) person related through more than two lines of decent.

Ahakoa ngā tohutohu a Te Wherowhero, ka kōkiringia te kākahu haehae a Ngāti Toa me ōna karanga maha (TTR 1990:341). / Despite Te Wherowhero's instructions it charged a feigned retreat of Ngāti Toa and its allies.

Show example

Hide example

Karanga matua

1. uncle.

Nā taku karanga matua au i whakaako ki te mahi pāmu. My uncle taught me about farming. /

Show example

Hide example

Karanga whaea

1. aunty.

He mea whāngai au nā taku karanga whaea. I was adopted by my aunty. /

Show example

Hide example

karanga manu

1. (noun) bird-calling flute - a generic term for instruments and techniques used to mimic and attract birds using a variety of leaves or small pieces of bone or stone that have a small hole placed in a position that allows them to be blown over.

He nui ngā momo taonga karanga manu a te Māori hai whakataurite ki te tangi o ngā manu (TWK 41:14). / There are many types of instruments of the Māori to imitate the sounds of birds.

Show example

Hide example

karanga weka

1. (noun) flute for calling weka.

(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 165;)

Ko te karanga weka he kakau poto tōna, ā, ko tētahi pito ka piko whakarunga. Kotahi noa te wenewene (TWK 41:15). / The flute for calling weka has a short stem and one end curves upwards. It has just one fingerhole.

Show example

Hide example

Te Kākano 3rd Edition

New edition of the leading Māori-language textbook out now.

More info

The App

Te Aka Māori Dictionary is also available as an iOS and Android app. Download below.

iOS Android

The Book

Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index by John C Moorfield comprises a selection of modern and everyday language that will be extremely useful for learners of the Māori language.

More info

He Pātaka Kupu

Te kai a te rangatira

He Pātaka Kupu is a monolingual Māori language dictionary, and was designed using its own culturally authentic terms.

Visit website

00:00