one

From Proto-Polynesian *qone, from Proto-Oceanic *qone, from Proto-Austronesian *qənay (compare with Javanese êni).
Compare with Malay pasir (e.g. in gula pasir) for sense of 'granule, granulated'

huka one: granulated sugar, caster sugar


kawa

From Proto-Polynesian *kawa (cognates include Hawaiian ʻawa, Tongan kava and Samoan ʻava) from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ (“potent root”) metathesis of Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀ (“root”), thus doublet of aka. Sense of plant lost with species introduced to Aotearoa dying out due to its cold climate. Sense of "marae protocol" seems to be a modern extension.


rata

From Proto-Oceanic *lasa (Compare Fijian lasa).


tore

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *tore (“striked, streaked” – compare to Rarotongan tore, Tahitian tore),


kopa

From Proto-Polynesian *kopa (“weak, lame”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kemba (“to be weak”).


tea

From Proto-Polynesian *tea. Compare Hawaiian kea and Rapa Nui tea tea.


ani

echoing, resounding (i.e. bounces sound waves)


poro

From Proto-Oceanic *polos “to cut across, to sever” – compare with Samoan polo


matira

From Proto-Polynesian *ma-tila (“bamboo, bamboo fishing rod, bamboo knife”), from *tila (“mast, yardarm”).

E whakanohohia tētahi tangata i runga i te taumata matira i ngā rā katoa hei matira ki te tangata haere, ki te ope taua rānei.

A man was stationed on the lookout summit every day to watch the travellers, or for war parties.


tapa

From Proto-Polynesian *tapas variant of *tapas-i (“to cut” – compare with Rarotongan tapaʻi “to chop down lengthwise, to cleave”, Tahitian tapahi “to cut or split a fruit into two, to cut down a tree”, Samoan tafa, Tongan tafa “to cut open (of boils), to incise, to carve”), from Proto-Oceanic *tapasi (compare with Fijian tava “to cut with a knife, to castrate”) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tabas (compare with Malay tebas “to slash or cut down grasses, small plants”, Tagalog tabas “to cut fabric, paper”). Doublet of tapahi.


maki

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *maki (compare Tahitian maʻi), from Proto-Polynesian *masaki (compare , East Futuna masaki, Tongan mahaki), from Proto-Oceanic *masakit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sakit (compare Tagalog masakit, Malay sakit, Acehnese sakét). Doublet of mahaki.


mea

From Proto-Polynesian *mea from Proto-Oceanic *meʀaq, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *meʀaq, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ma-iʀaq (compare with Malay merah, Iban mirah).


ware

From Proto-Polynesian *vale “mad, ignorant, unskilled, forgetful” (cognate with Rarotongan vare “duped, deceived, misled”, Tahitian vare “deceived”, Tongan vale “foolish, silly, ignorant” and Samoan vale “idiot”).


ware

Cognate with Rarotongan vare “slime”, Tahitian vare “discharge esp. rheum or sleep of the eye” and varea “drowsy (i.e. to have sleep in one's eyes)”; Samoan vavale “snail slime”. Compare with Hawaiian kūkaenalo for similar patterns of semantic development (corresponds to tūtae + ngaro).


mata

From Proto-Polynesian *mata (compare with Hawaiian maka, Tokelauan mata, Tongan mata and Samoan mata), from Proto-Oceanic *mataq, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mataq (compare with Malay mentah), from Proto-Austronesian *moto.


māori

→ English: Maori, Māori

From Proto-Polynesian *ma(a)qoli (“true, genuine, real”). Compare Hawaiian maoli.

normal, usual, natural, common, ordinary

native, indigenous, fresh (of water), belonging to Aotearoa/New Zealand, clear, intelligible

freely, without restraint, without ceremony, without object, unannounced


reka

From Proto-Polynesian *leka (compare Hawaiian leʻa, Tahitian ʻārearea, Tongan neka and nekaneka).


hau

hau kāinga

home, true home, local people of a marae, home people, locals


koru

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *kolu ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *gəluŋ (compare with Malay gelung “loop”) from *-luŋ (“bend, curve”).


horo

From Proto-Polynesian *solo₃ (compare with Hawaiian holo, Tahitian horo, Samoan solo) from Proto-Polynesian *ŋaasolo (“to move swiftly forward”).


koi

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *koi (“sharp, keen”). Compare Hawaiian ʻoi (“sharp, acute”).


kore

Compare with Rarotongan kore and Tahitian ʻore

kore utu: free (lit. 'without price')


uta

From Proto-Polynesian *quta (compare with Hawaiian uka and Tongan ʻuta), from Proto-Oceanic *qutan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qutan (compare with Malay hutan “jungle, forest”} and Iban utan “ibid.”), from Proto-Austronesian *quCaN (“scrubland, bush”).


tua

From Proto-Polynesian *tuqa (compare with Rarotongan tua “back or behind, beyond”, Samoan tua “beyond, outside”, Tahitian tua “ridge, crest” and Tongan tuʻa) from Proto-Oceanic *tuqan “bone” from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuqəlaŋ “bone” (compare with Chamorro to'lang, Malay tulang, Ilocano tulang) ~ *tuqəlan from Proto-Austronesian *CuqəlaN.


marino

From Proto-Polynesian *malino. Cognate with Hawaiian malino.


tapu

From Proto-Polynesian *tapu, from Proto-Oceanic *tabu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *tambu. Cognate with Hawaiian kapu.


tepe

waiū tepe: yogurt


kino

From Proto-Polynesian *kino (“bad”). Cognate with Hawaiian ʻino.


turi

From Proto-Polynesian *tuli, from Proto-Oceanic *tuli (compare with Fijian dule (“ear wax”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuli (compare with Malay tuli), from Proto-Austronesian *Culi.


toa

From Proto-Polynesian *toqa (compare Hawaiian koa and Samoan toa).


hina

From Proto-Polynesian *sina (compare with Hawaiian hina and Samoan sina), from Proto-Oceanic *sinaʀ (compare with Fijian cina (“to illuminate”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sinaʀ (compare with Malay sinar, Tagalog sinag), from Proto-Austronesian *siNaʀ.


moe

From Proto-Polynesian *mohe (compare Tongan mohe, Hawaiian moe) from Proto-Oceanic (compare Fijian moce).


mara

From Proto-Oceanic *mara (“to spoil, to go foul [of food]” – compare with Tongan mā “breadfruit preserve, Western bread”, Samoan mala “soft [of food]”, Fijian mara “stench of a corpse”, Satawalese mar “breadfruit preserve”).

(of food) preserved esp. by prolonged steeping under running water until softened


namu

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *namu (compare with Tahitian ninamu).


oti

From Proto-Polynesian *qoti, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qəti, from Proto-Austronesian *qəCi.


roa

From Proto-Polynesian *loa, cognate with Hawaiian loa and Tahitian roa.


whero

Derived from Proto-Polynesian *felo (“yellow, tawny” – compare with Hawaiian helo, Tongan felo and felofelo) Sense of "yellow" displaced by kōwhai while evolving close to "red".
Sense of “bright” is semantic evolution from “yellow” > “bright”. This also evolved into sense of gold from its shine; recorded as ferro by Vincent Pyke interviewing one Mr. Palmer informed by one "Tuawaiki" (or "Tuwaewae") in Otago. Similar parallels in the same Austronesian family can be seen in Tagalog between bulaw “reddish orange” and bulawan “gold”, and Malagasy volamena (from vola mena, lit. “red silver”).


rongo

From Proto-Polynesian *roŋo, from Proto-Central Pacific *roŋo, from Proto-Oceanic *roŋoʀ (compare with Fijian rogo), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dəŋəʀ, from Proto-Austronesian *dəŋəʀ (compare with Malay dengar, Tagalog dinig).


mataku

From Proto-Polynesian *mataku, from Proto-Oceanic *matakut, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *matakut, from Proto-Austronesian *matakut.


tupu

From Proto-Polynesian *tupu, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tubuq, from Proto-Austronesian *Cubuq (compare Malay tumbuh).


kohu

Likely from kapu “concave part of the palm, scoop, ladle”, see there for more details.


pounamu

Component namu “green-blue, grue” from Proto-Eastern Polynesian *namu (compare with Tahitian ninamu).


raki

Australian National University
Bruce Biggs
South Island

From Proto-Oceanic *laki (“westerly wind”) (cognate with Fijian draki "weather" and Hawaiian laʻi "stillness, calm, peace"); sense of "dry" perhaps originally a semantic extension from the weather conditions brought by the wind surrounding New Zealand.
No words for the cardinal directions can be unambiguously reconstructed for Proto-Polynesian, as there would be little use for them on the small Polynesian islands. However, on the much larger North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu) of New Zealand, the usefulness of such terminology led the Māori to adopt this word for "north".


mura

Sense of colour from backformation of muramura “colourful”


renga

From Proto-Polynesian *renga from Proto-Oceanic *renga. Cognate with Hawaiian lena, Tahitian reʻa, Samoan lega and Tongan enga all meaning "turmeric". Sense of colour comes from hue produced by the plant (compare with Hawaiian lenalena), eventually displacing the original meaning when the plant did not survive the cold New Zealand climate.


hōu

From Proto-Polynesian *foqou, from Proto-Central Pacific *vaqou, from Proto-Oceanic *paqoʀu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(ma-)baqəʀu, from Proto-Austronesian *(ma-)baqəʀuh.


pono

From Proto-Polynesian *pono, from Proto-Oceanic *bonor, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bənər (compare with Malay benar). Probably an innovation of Eastern Polynesian, with the similarity being accidental on account of final *-r.

Mehemea he pono te aroha o te tangata ki te wahine, o te wahine rānei ki te tāne, e kore rawa e mātoke, ahakoa whakararurarutia e ngā whanaunga engari ka kaha kē atu.

If a man truly loves a woman, or vice versa, it will not go cold, and despite problems caused by relatives it will become stronger.


uri

Proto-Eastern Polynesian *quli – compare with Tahitian uri “blackish, bluish (of bruises)”, Samoan ʻuli, Tongan ʻuli “dark (of colour, skin), blackish” and ʻuliʻuli “Black, African-American”

moana uri: deep [blue] sea


rehu

From Proto-Polynesian *rapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Hawaiian lehu (“ash”); Tahitian rehu (“ash, grey colour”) and rehurehu (“twilight”); Tongan efu (“dust, human remains”); Samoan lefulefu) from Proto-Oceanic *dapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Fijian dravu (“ashes”) and dravuloa (“grey”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Malay dapur (“kitchen”) and Tagalog dapog (“open fire”)). Doublet of rehurehu, nehu, and nehunehu.


tino

From Proto-Polynesian *tino (“body of a person or animal”).


tini

See also Rarotongan tini “ten thousand” and tauatini “thousand”; Tahitian tautini “thousand”, manotini “twenty thousand” and mano “between one and two thousand”. See also mano tini.


mahana

From Proto-Polynesian *mafana (compare with Tongan mafana and Samoan mafana) affixed from *fana from Proto-Oceanic *panas (doublet of hana, compare also with Tahitian hana and hanahana) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *panas (compare with Malay panas). Also analyzable as ma- + hana.

He kuira, he hōro, he paraikete ō mātau hai huihi i a mātau i ngā pō kei te moe mātau, kia mahana ai mātau.

We had quilts, shawls and blankets to cover us at night when we were sleeping, so that we were warm.


kehu

Derived from Proto-Polynesian *kefu (“light-coloured”) (compare with Hawaiian ʻehu (“reddish”), Tahitian ʻehu (“reddish, ginger”), Tongan kefu (“brownish”) and Samoan ʻefu (“reddish brown”))


riki

From Proto-Polynesian *riki (“small” – compare with Tahitian riʻi and riʻi, Tongan iliki and liliki). from Proto-Oceanic *rikit from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dikit (“little, small in amount” – compare with Malay dikit and sedikit “few”).


kakara

From Proto-Polynesian *kakala (cognates include Hawaiian ʻaʻala and ʻala, Tahitian ʻāʻara, Samoan alalā and Tongan kakala).


piro

From Proto-Oceanic *pilo (compare with Samoan piro, Tahitian piro “dirty, smelly” and Hawaiian pilo (“foul odour, halitosis, pollution”)) monophthongized from pirau (“to decay, to fester”).


kune

From Proto-Oceanic *kune – compare with Tuamotuan ʻune, Fijian kune “to appear, to be visible” and kunekune “to conceive a child”


noa

→ English: noa

→ Italian: noa


hiko

Compare with Maori uira, Hawaiian uila, Tahitian uira and Tongan ʻuhila for semantic extension into "electricity".

(attributive) electric; electrical; electronic


piko

From Proto-Polynesian *piko (compare with Rarotongan piko, Tahitian piʻo “crooked, bent, to incline facing up”, Tongan piko, and Samoan piʻo), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *biŋkuk (“curved, bent” — compare with Malay bengkok). Compare also with niko “to coil”.


rangatira

→ English: rangatira

From Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *ragatira.


roaka

From Proto-Polynesian *rauka (compare with Hawaiian loaʻa (“to get, to obtain, to procure”) plus Tahitian roaʻa and noaʻa (both “to obtain, to acquire”)) from Proto-Polynesian *lawa-ka thus doublet of rawa.


pohe

Cognate with Tahitian pohe related to pō “night, darkness” ultimately from Proto-Oceanic *boŋi.


ruru

From Proto-Oceanic *ruru (compare with Hawaiian lulu, Tahitian ruru, Tongan ū) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *duŋduŋ “sheltered” – compare with similar verbs across the Austronesian family with a *-duŋ ending like *tuduŋ (“head cover” – compare with Tagalog turong, Malay tudung) and *linduŋ (compare with Malay lindung “to protect”).


auahi

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *ahuafi merging Proto-Polynesian *qahu (from Proto-Oceanic *qasu from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qasu (“smoke; fume; steam”)) and *afi.


kakā

From Proto-Polynesian *kakaha (“to burn”) (compare with Samoan ʻaʻasa, Tongan kakaha and Hawaiian ʻaʻā) from Proto-Polynesian *kaha (“to burn”) (compare with Hawaiian ʻā, Rapa Nui kā).


aitu

From Proto-Polynesian *qaitu. Cognates include Niuean aitu and Samoan aitu.


mākona

From Proto-Polynesian *maa-kona (compare with Hawaiian māʻona (“full, satisfied”))


nanu

Free variation of ranu, see there for more details.


pēpē

He kai pēpē ngahau a ngā tāngata Arapi ko 'hūmuhu'; ka hangaia mā te penupenu o ngā kano tiki, ka ratoa me ngā pāraoa.

The Arabs have a unique mashed food called ‘ḥummuṣ’, it is made by mashing chickpeas and served with bread.


ngāwhā

From Proto-Polynesian *ŋafaqa (“to burst open, to crack”) (compare with Tahitian ʻafā, Tongan ngafa, Hawaiian nahā).


pona

From sense of node/knot in Etymology 1.
Sense of 'portable' is semantic extension < 'sachet' < 'tied item' < 'knot of rope'

rorohiko pona: laptop


māmā

From Proto-Polynesian *maqamaqa (compare with Rarotongan māmā, Tahitian māmā, Tongan maʻamaʻa and Samoan māmā) from Proto-Oceanic *maʀaqan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ma-ʀaqan suffixed from *ʀaqan (compare with Cebuano gaán, Tagalog gaan)


maitai

From Proto-Polynesian *maqitaki; compare with Hawaiian maikaʻi and Tahitian maitaʻi.


maitai

Compound of mai (“from”) + tai (“sea”), sense of iron from their introduction by trade with European sailors.


rawa

From Proto-Polynesian *lawa₁ (compare with Hawaiian lawa (“abundance, plenty”)).


rehurehu

Reduplication (thus doublet) of rehu from Proto-Polynesian *rapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Hawaiian lehu (“ash”); Tahitian rehu (“ash, grey colour”) and rehurehu (“twilight”); Tongan efu (“dust, human remains”); Samoan lefulefu) from Proto-Oceanic *dapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Fijian dravu (“ashes”) and dravuloa (“grey”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Malay dapur (“kitchen”) and Tagalog dapog (“open fire”)). Also doublet of nehu and nehunehu.


makariri

From Proto-Polynesian *makalili (compare with Tahitian maʻariri, Samoan maʻalili) from to Proto-Oceanic *makaridriŋ affixing *ridriŋ from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *diŋin (compare with Tetum malirin, Malay dingin).


mahaki

From Proto-Polynesian *masaki (compare with East Futuna masaki, Tongan mahaki), from Proto-Oceanic *masakit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sakit (compare Tagalog masakit, Malay sakit, Acehnese sakét).


ariari

Reduplication of ari from Proto-Polynesian *qali₁ (compare with Hawaiian aliali “crystal clear” and aniani “glass”; Tahitian ariari “clear, transparent”; Samoan aliali “to appear”)


pikopiko

Reduplication of piko “to bend” – compare with Samoan piʻopiʻo.

(of rivers etc) winding, meandering, crooked


mauī

From Proto-Polynesian *maui. Possibly related to the name Māui.

left (the west side of the body when one is facing north)


tōrangapū

Nā ōna mōhiotanga, nā tāna atawhai matawhāiti, nā tōna hiringa me tōna mātauranga tōrangapū, i pērā rawa ai te angitu ōna ki tēnei whakatakanga āna.

His intelligence, tact and persistence and political skill brought him considerable success in this mission.


kākāriki

kākā (“parrot”) + riki (“small”)
Sense of colour from description of its feathers.


mamao

From Proto-Polynesian *mamaqo (compare with Hawaiian mamao, Tongan mamaʻo, Samoan mamao).


parauri

para (“yellow, dirt, silt”) + uri (“dark, deep [of colour]”) thus ‘dark yellow’ – compare with paraumu “topsoil” (lit. ‘soil of the umu’) and parā “to turn yellow of dirt, to ripe”. Similar connections of yellow and brown can be found within other languages of the same Austronesian family: Malay for example has kuning tanah (lit. “dirt yellow”) referring to hex colour #eeb261 which can be perceived as brownish to Westerners.


roha

From Proto-Polynesian *rofa (compare with Tongan ofa), from Proto-Oceanic *ropa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dəpah (compare wth Tetum depa, Malay depa, Iban depa, Cebuano dupá, Tongan dipá).


pōhēhē

Partial reduplication of pohe “blind, stupid, dull”.

E te poroheahea, e te pōhēhē, e te porohewa

2024, “Pūhā me te Porohewa”, performed by Mā:


matomato

Reduplication of mato (“deep swamp, deep valley”).


punua

Cognate to Samoan punua and Hawaiian pūnua (“a fledgeling”).


āio

Cognate with Hawaiian ʻaiō (“wave that rises and falls without breaking”).


aronui

From aro (“front (of a person)”) + nui (“big; great”).


ehu

From Proto-Polynesian *efu (“dusty, dirty, unclear”), from Proto-Oceanic *qapu (“ashes, dust”), from Proto-Austronesian *qabu (“ashes, cinders, dust”).


hāro

From Proto-Oceanic *saqalo — compare with Samoan saʻalo “to scrape, to grate (of coconuts), scraper, coconut grater” and sālo “to smoothen a surface”, Tongan haʻalo “to smooth clean a surface, to scrape away outer layer of bark or leaf for its inner fibres”.


piapia

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *piapia, from Proto-Polynesian *pia, from Proto-Oceanic *biʀaq, *biʀas.


hinahina

Reduplication (thus doublet) of hina from Proto-Polynesian *sina (compare with Samoan māsina and sina), from Proto-Oceanic *sinaʀ (compare with Fijian cina (“to illuminate”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sinaʀ (compare with Malay sinar (“ray, shine”), Tagalog sinag), from Proto-Austronesian *siNaʀ.


marutau

[ˈmɐ.ɾʉ.tɐʉ]


haumaru

[ˈhɐʉ.mɐ.ɾʉ]


rongonui

rongo (“hear; news; fame”) + nui (“big; great”)


uaua

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *uaua (“tendon, vein” – Tahitian uaua, Tongan uoua and Samoan uaua) reduplicating *ua (likely to avoid conflation with ua meaning “rain”) from Proto-Oceanic *uʀat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *uʀat (“blood vessel, sinew, tendon” – compare with Malay urat “vein” and otot “muscle”, Cebuano ugat, Tagalog ugát).


mōmona

From Proto-Polynesian *mona (compare with Hawaiian mona and momona (“fat, soft, sweet”), Tahitian momona and monamona (“sweet, tasty, dessert”)), from Proto-Oceanic *moñak, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *məñak (compare with Malay minyak (“oil”)).


mārama

From Proto-Polynesian *ma-ramaa (“to shine”) (compare with Hawaiian malama, Tongan māma), from Proto-Oceanic *ma-ramaʀ (“to shine”), from Proto-Oceanic *rama (compare with Fijian rama,) from Proto-Oceanic *ramaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *damaʀ (“tree resin”). (compare with Malay damar) Doublet of marama, rama, and mā.


pupuru

Partial reduplication of puru (“coconut husk, pulp”)


hūngoingoi

wimpy, cowardly, spineless, faint-hearted, uncourageous


nihoniho

Reduplication of niho (“tooth”). Compare with relationship between Malay gigi “tooth” and gerigi “serrated, jagged”
Sense of character from behaviour of baring teeth.


mangeo

From Proto-Polynesian *maŋeho (compare with Hawaiian maneʻo and Tahitian maʻeo) from Proto-Oceanic *maŋeso.


puehu

Related to ehu, rehu and nehu. For sense of pollen, compare with Hawaiian ʻehu and Malay debu (i.e. in debunga from debu bunga “flower dust”) for similar semantic extension.


kaokao

From Proto-Polynesian *kao-kao (“rib, flank”) (compare with Hawaiian ʻaoʻao (“side, page of a book”), Tahitian ʻaoʻao (“rib”), Samoan ʻaoʻao (“armpit”) and Tongan kaokao).


muhumuhu

discontented (experiencing discontent, dissatisfaction)


atamai

From Proto-Polynesian *qata-mai (compare with Tahitian atama (“intelligence”), Tongan ʻatamai (“intelligence”)) from Proto-Oceanic *qataq (“to know”)

intelligent, smart, quickwitted, of sharp mind


pongipongi

From Proto-Oceanic *boŋi-boŋi (“early morning”) (cognates with Samoan pogipogi (“dawn, dusk, twilight”) and Tongan pongipongi (“morning, tomorrow”)) reduplicate of *boŋi (see pō for more details, also compare with Samoan pogi, Hawaiian poni), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəʀŋi (compare with Javanese wengi)


whakamataku

From whaka- (causative prefix) + mataku (“be afraid”).


hākaro

From Proto-Polynesian *saa-kalo (compare with Tahitian hāʻaro and ʻaʻaro both “to scrape from a cavity”; Tongan hakalo (“to scrape [of coconuts], coconut grater”); Samoan saʻalo (“to scrape”)) affixing *kalo₃ from Proto-Oceanic *kalo or *karut (“to scratch with fingernails, to claw at”) (compare with Fijian kadru, also doublet of raku) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *garut (“rub against, scrape, scratch”) (compare with Malay garut (“to grind against one another, to scrape”) and garu “to scratch”).


whānako

From Proto-Polynesian *faanako (compare with Tahitian fānaʻo “chance, to have a chance”), from Proto-Oceanic *panako from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *panakaw affixed from *takaw (compare with Tagalog takaw “eager, greed, gluttony” and nakaw “stealing”)


tāhuhu

From Proto-Oceanic *taqo-fufu (compare with Tongan toʻufufu) affixing *fufu from Proto-Oceanic *pupuŋan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bubuŋ (“ridge of roof, mountain” – compare with Malay bumbung, Tagalog bubóng, Ilocano bobóng all “roof”). Also reanalyzable as tā “stalk” + huhu – compare with Malay tulang bumbung “ridgepole”, lit. “bone of roof” (corresponding to tua + huhu).


whiwhi

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *fifi (“entangled, confused” – compare with Tahitian fifi “chain”) related to Proto-Oceanic *pisi (“bind up, tie up, wind round, wrap” – compare with Tongan fihi “tangled, intricate, complicated”, Samoan fisi “to entwine” and Fijian vici “to bind, to coil”)


ioio

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *uaua, also reanalyzable as reduplication of io. Doublet of uaua and iaia altogether from ua, see there for more details.


nohopuku

noho (“to be still”) + puku (“stomach, appetite”).


piropiro

Reduplication of piro, monophthongized from pirau (“to rot”).


piropiro

Reduplication of piro “extinguished, put out”


pūkaka

direct (straight, constant, without interruption)


rangitahi

momentary, ephemeral, transient, short-lived, brief


mārie

From Proto-Polynesian *malie.
Compare with Malay selamat in forming greetings.

Ata mārie! Good morning!

Pō mārie! Good night!


porotaka

poro (“any round or curving object, ball”) + taka (“to revolve, to encircle”).