Learning Cook Island Maori

Charlie & Tom run Kuki Learning and have some great resources on youtube for learning Cook Islands Maori. Appreciate their work in helping preserve and promote the language.

Hello = Kia Orana (kee-ah or-ah-nah)

Greetings and Common Phrases

• How are you? = Pe’ea ua koe?, pronounced: [peh-air, o-ah, cor-eh]
• After you say “Kia Orana” (hello), learn to follow up and ask “Pe’ea ua koe?”.

• You can also say; Pe’ea? = How’s it?

• Good/fine = Mako
• Great = Tumeke
• No = Kare
• Yes = ‘Ae (ah-eh)
• Thank you = Meitaki (may-tah-kee)
• Thank you very much = Meitaki rahi (may-tah-kee rah-hee)
• Please = Kōrero mai (koh-reh-roh my)

145 - I am hot / cold

• I am hot = Kua vera au/E vera toku
  • Vera = hot
• I am cold = Kua anu au/E anu toku
  • Anu = cold

153 - Common Kitchen Items

• Bring me the __? Apai mai te? ( A pie my te__? )
  • Pot/pan = pāni
  • frying pan = varai pāni
  • Plate = mereki
  • Cup = kapu
  • Fork = kokai
  • Knife = tipi
  • Spoon = tipunu
  • Lid = papani
  • Oven = umu
  • Fridge/freezer = pia anuanu/pia akaanuanu