| Maori | English |
|---|---|
| Click on each word to hear how it sounds | |
| E aua | I don’t know |
| haere | go |
| karaka | clock/ ‘o’ clock |
| kopae | CD |
| kopae whakaata | DVD |
| ma runga | on the … (bus, train, car etc.) |
| mahue | leave behind |
| matawa | clock |
| niupepa | newspaper |
| pahi | bus |
| Maori | English |
|---|---|
| Click on each word to hear how it sounds | |
| pahi kura | school bus |
| rerewhenua | train |
| ripene whakaata | video |
| rorohiko | computer |
| wa | time |
| waea pukoro | cellphone |
| waka | car, boat |
| waka rererangi | aeroplane |
| wehe | leave |
| wiki | week |
Vowels
There are 5 vowel sounds in Maori; they are pronounced ‘short’ or ’long’. In written form, the long vowel is usually marked with a macron e.g. a.
Click on each letter to hear how it sounds
| Vowel | How it sounds |
|---|---|
| a | as in putt |
| e | as in pen |
| i | as in me |
| o | as in for |
| u | as in you |
| Vowel | How it sounds |
|---|---|
| a | as in car |
| e | as in end |
| i | as in tea |
| o | as in your |
| u | as in blue |
Consonants
Click on each consonant to hear how it sounds
The consonant sounds are:
h | k | m | n | ng | p | r | t | w | wh
ng as in singer
wh as in feather
r pronounced quite close to the English L, with the tongue near the front of the mouth