haere
The Tahitian word for "go" is haere.
haere is a verb used to describe moving through space, especially moving from one place to another.
Meaning: to move through space (especially from one place to another) (verb)
Which one should you use?
While haere is the general verb for movement, haere mai is used specifically for movement toward the speaker, whereas haere atu specifies movement away from the speaker.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle mai (towards the speaker) to haere changes the meaning from "go" to "come". Adding the particle atu (away from the speaker) to haere specifies movement away from the current location.
When do people say it?
Haere rā is a standard way to say goodbye, literally meaning "go away" (used when the person leaving is moving away from you).
Did you know?
- In Tahitian, the word haere is a cognate of the Māori word haere, which also means 'go' and is used in the common greeting haere mai for 'welcome'.
- Because haere describes general movement, it can be combined with other words to describe specific types of travel that English requires separate verbs for, such as hiking or sailing.
- In Polynesian languages, the root of haere is often linked to the concept of a journey or a path, emphasizing the process of moving rather than just the destination.
Example conversation
Mareva and Teva are deciding where to walk.
- MarevaE haere tāua i te marae.Let's go to the marae.
- TevaĀe, e haere tāua.Yes, let's go.
- MarevaE haere vete tāu?Are you going quickly?
- TevaĀe, haere vete au.Yes, I am going quickly.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry haere, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
