Language/Maori/Vocabulary/Animals
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Animals Vocabulary in Maori
Welcome Māori language learners!
In today's lesson, we'll learn some useful vocabulary related to "Animals".
New Zealand is a country known for its unique and diverse natural environment, with many of its animal species found nowhere else on the planet.
Happy learning!
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Vegetables & City.
Facts: Main Animals in New Zealand[edit | edit source]
New Zealand is home to a diverse range of animals, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Some of the most iconic animals living in New Zealand include:
- Kiwi bird: The Kiwi bird is a flightless bird and the national symbol of New Zealand. There are five species of Kiwi in New Zealand, each with its unique characteristics.
- Kea parrot: The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot and is known for its curious and mischievous nature.
- Humpback whale: Humpback whales migrate to New Zealand's waters every year and are known for their spectacular displays of breaching and tail slapping.
- Sperm whale: Sperm whales are the largest predator on earth and can be found year-round in New Zealand's waters.
- Fur seal: New Zealand fur seals are a common sight on the country's coastline, and visitors can often see them basking in the sun or swimming in the ocean.
- Takahe: The Takahe is a large flightless bird that was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1948.
- Kakapo parrot: The Kakapo is a critically endangered parrot that is only found in New Zealand. It is the world's heaviest parrot and is known for its distinctively owl-like appearance.
kararehe - animal[edit | edit source]
| Māori | English |
|---|---|
| tākuta kararehe | veterinary surgeon |
| kurī | dog |
| punua/kūao kurī, papi [UK] | puppy |
| ngeru | cat |
| punua ngeru/poti | kitten |
| kiore | rat |
| mauihi [UK] | mouse |
| kāihe | donkey, (ass) |
| hōiho [UK] | horse |
| hōiho uwha | mare |
| punua hōiho | foal, (colt) |
| poniponi [UK] | pony |
| ōkiha [UK] | ox |
| pūru [UK] | bull |
| kau [UK] | cow |
| kāwhe [UK] | calf |
| hipi [UK] | sheep |
| reme [UK] | lamb |
| nanenane
pirikoti [UK] |
goat
Billy-goat |
| poaka [UK/FR] | pig |
| rāpeti [UK]
hea [UK] |
rabbit
hare |
| kamiriona | mole |
| hetiheti [UK] | hedgehog |
| kīrera [UK] | squirrel |
| pōkiha [UK] | fox |
| wūruhi | wolf |
| pea [UK] | bear |
manu - bird[edit | edit source]
| Māori | English |
|---|---|
| kōhanga | nest |
| kiwi | kiwi |
| pouākai, ēkara [UK] | eagle |
| karoro | seagull |
| toroa | albatross |
| kūkupa | dove |
| tīkaokao, tame heihei | rooster, (cock) |
| heihei, pīkaokao | hen |
| rakiraki, (whio) | duck |
| kuihi [UK] | goose |
| wani | swan |
ika - fish[edit | edit source]
| Māori | English |
|---|---|
| paea | swordfish |
| mangō
mangō pounamu mangō pare |
shark
blue shark hammerhead shark |
| aihe | dolphin |
| tohorā | whale |
| kekeno | seal |
| pāpaka | crab |
| honu | turtle, tortoise |
| pātangaroa | seastar, starfish |
| anga | seashell |
| kūtai
toretore |
blue mussel
blue mussel |
| tio | oyster |
| pāua | abalone |
| wheo | coral |
| pūpū | snail |
| putoko | slug |
| nākahi [UK] | snake |
| ngārara | lizard |
| moko, mokomoko
mokopāpā moko kākāriki |
gecko
[brown] [green] |
| poraka taratara | toad |
| poraka [UK] | frog |
pēpeke - insects[edit | edit source]
| Māori | English |
|---|---|
| pōpokorua | ant |
| kihikihi | cicada |
| pihareinga | cricket |
| māwhitiwhiti | grasshopper |
| ngaro | fly |
| pūrerehua | butterfly |
| kapowai | dragonfly |
| titiwai
pūrātoke |
firefly,
glow-worm |
| noke, (toke) | earthworm |
| ngoikura | ladybug, (ladybird) |
| pī [UK] | bee |
| wāpi [UK] | wasp |
| waeroa | mosquito |
| papata | cockroach |
| pūngāwerewere | spider |
| hikutimo | scorpion |
whare kararehe - zoo[edit | edit source]
| Māori | English |
|---|---|
| makimaki [UK] | monkey, ape |
| kākā, pōrete [UK]
kākāpō |
parrot
night parrot |
| momoa | ostrich |
| raiona [UK] | lion |
| uwha raiona | lioness |
| rēparo [UK]
pānihi |
leopard
panther |
| taika [UK] | tiger |
| kāmera [UK/AR] | camel
dromedary |
| hīpara | zebra |
| kakīroa | giraffe |
| arewhana | elephant |
| rinorino | rhinoceros |
| hipohipo | hippopotamus |
| kumi ihuroa | crocodile |
| kāngarū | kangaroo |
Practice Phrases[edit | edit source]
Here are some phrases to help your remember some of the above words in context:
- I tino pai te kai i te ika kaiwhakatikatika i te wiki. - The fish was very good for dinner this week.
- E kimi ana ahau i tētahi manu hei whakawhitiwhiti i ngā whakaaro. - I am looking for a bird to distract my thoughts.
- He manu tino rerekē tērā, ko te pouākai. - That's a very unusual bird, the eagle.
- Kei te pai tonu ngā moko ki te whakarereke i ngā awa. - The geckos are good at controlling the insects near the river.
- He nui ngā kararehe kei te whakamātau te hunga taiao ki te tiaki i a rātou. - There are many animals that environmentalists are trying to protect.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Learn some key animals in Te Reo Māori[edit | edit source]
ANIMALS in Te Reo and NZSL (with sounds) for kids[edit | edit source]
Te Reo Maori Farm Animals Cards[edit | edit source]
Māori Language Week 2017 - animal names[edit | edit source]
Farm Animals I Te Pāmu I Learn Te Reo Māori[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]