Tīpuna – Ancestors / Grandparents (plural)

Koroua – Grandfather / Elderly man

Kuia – Grandmother / Elderly woman

Tamariki – Children

Tuakana – Older same-gender sibling

Teina – Younger same-gender sibling

Tuahine – Sister of a male

Tungāne – Brother of a female

Iramutu – Niece or nephew

Whanaunga – Relative / Cousin

Kōkā / Karaihe – Cousin (regional or informal terms)

Whānau – Family

Hoa rangatira – Spouse / Partner

Whāngai – Fostered or adopted child

Tamariki mokopuna – Great-grandchildren

Whare tangata – Womb / Line of descent (poetic term)

‘A’ category examples:

tāku tamaiti – my child – Ko Pita tāku tamaiti.

tāku hoa – my friend/partner – Ko Hana tāku hoa.

tāku mahi – my job/work – He pai tāku mahi.

tāku kurī – my dog (as a pet) – Ko Kuri tāku kurī.

tāku pukapuka – my book – Kei konei tāku pukapuka.

tāku tēpu – my table -  Kei te rūma kai tāku tēpu. (My table is in the dining room.)

tāku pouaka whakaata – my television - He nui tāku pouaka whakaata. 

tāku rorohiko – my computer - E mahi ana au i runga i tāku rorohiko. 

‘O’ category examples:

tōku māmā – my mother – Ko Mere tōku māmā.

tōku pāpā – my father – Ko Hōne tōku pāpā.

tōku kuia – my grandmother – Ko Rangi tōku kuia.

tōku koroua – my grandfather – E noho ana tōku koroua ki te pāmu.

tōku whare – my house – He nui tōku whare.

tōku kāinga – my home – Ka hoki au ki tōku kāinga.

tōku waka – my car – He hou tōku waka.

tōku tinana – my body – E mamae ana tōku tinana.

tōku kura – my school – Kei tōku kura ahau e ako ana.

tōku ruma – my room – Kei tōku ruma te tūru.

tōku tūru – my chair – Kei konei tōku tūru.

What is taku? Taku means “my” or “mine.”

We use taku when we talk about one thing that belongs to us. It doesn’t say if we control the thing or not — it just means it’s mine.

When do we use taku?

When we want to say “my” but don’t need to say if we chose it or if it’s something special like family. It’s easy to use, especially if you’re still learning.

Taku kurī – my dog

Taku whare – my house

Taku pukapuka – my book

Taku māmā – my mum

What about tāku and tōku? 

Tāku means “my” for things you choose or control (like your pet or your job).

Tōku means “my” for people or things you don’t control, like your parents or your body.

Taku is a simple way to say “my” without worrying about this difference.

Wāhanga (Parts) body parts, parts of buildings

Whanaunga (Relatives) parents, grandparents, siblings

Whakaruruhau (Shelter/Protection) house, school, teachers

Wāhi (Places) towns, cities, countries

Whakaahua (Qualities) personal qualities, traits

Whakarākei (Adornments) clothes, jewelry (things you wear or put on)

Waka (Transport) cars, boats (means of transport)

Whakaora (Beneficial things) medicine, remedies

Everything that is not in the 'O' category falls under the ‘A’ category — things you have responsibility for like pets and children, or things you control like staff or possessions. Food and drink, technology, spoken words...

tāku hōiho – my horse (as a pet or something you care for)

Ko Taimana tāku hōiho. – Taimana is my horse (pet).

tōku hōiho – my horse (as transport or a companion on a journey)

Kei te haere mā runga i tōku hōiho. – I'm travelling on my horse.

tōku amarara – my umbrella (loanword, focus on function as shelter – O category)

I mau tōku amarara i te hau. (My umbrella was caught by the wind.)

tāku amarara – my umbrella (loanword, focus on technology– A category)

Anei tāku amarara hou. (Here’s my new umbrella.)

tāku waea pūkoro – my mobile phone - Kei hea tāku waea pūkoro?

tōku waea pūkoro – my mobile phone - Kei hea tōku waea pūkoro?

Note on “tāku” vs “tōku” for waea pūkoro: Some people use “tōku waea” instead of “tāku waea”, depending on how they classify the object. Use tāku when the phone is seen as technology — A category. Use tōku when the phone is seen as part of self — O category. Both are acceptable depending on context and speaker choice.