ka pai
The Māori phrase for "good work" is ka pai.
ka pai is a versatile expression used to praise someone for doing something well. It can be used as a standalone compliment meaning "well done" or "good work," but it is also used to mean "okay" or "fine."
Which one should you use?
If you want to increase the intensity of the praise, you can use ka pai rawa, which means "very good work" or "excellent." In an informal setting, you might also use Ka rawe tō mahi to say "Your work is awesome."
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "your work is good" specifically, you can use the phrase ka pai tō mahi.
Did you know?
- The word pai is a distant relative of the Malay word baik and the Tagalog word bait, all descending from a common ancestor spoken thousands of years ago.
- In New Zealand, ka pai is so widely recognized that it is frequently used by English speakers in everyday conversation even when they are not speaking Māori.
- In many Māori contexts, a verbal praise like ka pai might be accompanied by a nod or a specific facial expression to convey the depth of the approval.
Examples in context
- Ka pai tō mahi.Good work on your task.
- Ka pai te kōrero!Good work with that speech!
- Ka pai koe.You did a good job.
Example conversation
Tane has just finished cleaning the community garden.
- KahuKa pai te mahi, Tane!Good work, Tane!
- TaneKia ora, Kahu.Thank you, Kahu.
- KahuHe pai te huarere ināianei.The weather is good now.
- TaneAe, ka pai tēnā.Yes, that is good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ka pai, pai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
