Kia ora
/ˈkia ˈora/
To say "have a good day" in Maori, you can use the greeting Kia ora.
This phrase is used as a friendly greeting to wish someone well, either when you first meet them or when you are parting ways.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkia ˈora/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, Kia ora can be used to express a strong 'yes' or a sign of affirmation during a discussion.
- In New Zealand, Kia ora has become so ubiquitous that it is used by people of all ethnicities, not just those of Maori descent.
- The word ora is closely related to the Hawaiian word 'ola', which also means 'life' or 'health'.
Examples in context
- Kia pai tō rā e hoa! Mā te Atua koe e manaaki.Have a good day, my friend! May God bless you.
Example conversation
Wiremu and Anahera are leaving a cafe.
- WiremuKia ora, Anahera.Have a good day, Anahera.
- AnaheraKia ora, Wiremu.Have a good day, Wiremu.
- WiremuKa kite anō.See you again.
- AnaheraKa kite!See you!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry kia ora.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kia ora, ora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
