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He aha ngā kīwaha? What are kīwaha?
He aha ngā kīwaha? What are kīwaha?
Kīwaha are colloquial sayings or slang and they are great phrases to drop into your everyday conversation even if you are speaking English. Often the kupu in them don't translate literally, it's the tone of vice and the context that gives them their meaning. So, they can be really difficult to look up in a dictionary! There are also lots of regional variations - a colloquial saying in one iwi or hapū may not be used by another. However, there are some common ones listed below that you can practise, learn and use.
Haramai te toki - Cracked it!
Kei runga koe! - Good on you! Nice effort!
Ka mau te wehi! - Amazing, fabulous, great!
Tapatapahi ana - You're a flash guy!
Kua eke panuku! - Nailed it!
Ehara, ehara! - for sure! (this can be used to question someone e.g. I caught the biggest fish. Of course you did! )
Wananei! - wicked!
Te mutunga kē mai o te pai! - Never better, that's the best.
Kia pai mai hoki - brilliant, wonderful
Kua eke - I'm full - can be used to talk about having eaten enough, or when you've just had enough of anything!
Te kono kē hoki! - Mean!
Karawhiua! - Go hard!
Aheiha! - Hard out!
Wepua atu! - Give it heaps! Go hard!
Pai tū, pai hinga! - Whatever the outcome, give it a go
Wheo kē! - Buzzy!
Hangahanga noa iho! - Easy Peasy
Pāruhi kē! Perfect
Kua taka te kapa - The penny has dropped - Got it!
He raru kei te haere - trouble's brewing!
Kōrero mai anō - tell me again
Practise and learn these kīwaha by doing this quiz
https://quizlet.com/816410053/kiwaha-flash-cards/?i=49va&x=1qqt
Listen to these short podcasts from Radio NZ to find out how some of them are used. https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/kiwaha
The Taringa podcast starts every time with a kīwaha. They explain the meaning, context and the story that sits behind how they came about. Have a look;
Here are some more kīwaha to learn and practise. Yopu can print these out and make them into flashcards.
Kīwaha Cards to print.docxWhat sorts of games could you play to practise them?
Why not choose a couple and find an image that reflects the meaning?
Below are some examples of how kīwaha are used in context
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