kuia
/ˈkuia/
The Maori word for grandma is kuia.
kuia refers to a grandmother, but it is also used more broadly to mean an elderly woman or a female elder within a community.
Meaning: grandmother (informal) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While kuia is used for a grandmother or an elderly woman, koroua is the term used for a grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkuia/
Did you know?
- A kuia may lead the karanga, a haunting ceremonial call that opens the way for guests entering a sacred space.
- In traditional Maori society, kuia are often the primary keepers of whakapapa, which are the complex genealogical records and oral histories of the tribe.
- The word 'kuia' carries a sense of 'mana', which refers to a person's spiritual power and prestige.
Examples in context
- He kuia ia.She is a grandmother.
- Kei te haere te kuia.The grandmother is going.
- Nā te kuia tēnei.This is from the grandmother.
Example conversation
Kahu and Tane are looking at an old photograph.
- KahuKo wai te kuia i roto i te whakaahua?Who is the grandmother in the photo?
- TaneKo tōna kuia ia.She is his grandmother.
- KahuHe tino pai tēnā kuia.That grandmother is very nice.
- TaneĀe, he tino pai ia.Yes, she is very good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kuia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
