ENGLISH
REFERENCE

maori

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmaʊɹi// maori

adj. relating to the people who were the first to live in New Zealand, or to their language and culture.

adj. relating to the indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand or their language. Often used attributively to describe cultural practices, art, or social identity.


SIMPLE

We learned some basic Maori words during our trip to New Zealand.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum features a stunning collection of Maori carvings and traditional woven garments.

COMPLEX

The revitalization of the Maori language has been a cornerstone of New Zealand's educational policy, aiming to preserve indigenous heritage for future generations.

Origin

Borrowed from Māori māori (“aborigine, native; normal, ordinary, plain”). Doublet of Maoli.

Usage

When used as an adjective, it typically precedes the noun it modifies. In modern usage, it is often written with a macron (Māori) to indicate a long vowel sound.

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