Kia pai tō wiki
The English phrase "have a good week" is translated into Maori as Kia pai tō wiki.
This phrase is used as a polite wish for someone to experience a pleasant week.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kia (a particle used to express a wish or command), pai (good), tō (your – singular) and wiki (week).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word tō is used specifically when addressing one person.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using it for a group is a common mistake for learners.
Did you know?
- While tō is a possessive pronoun in this phrase, it is a homonym for a word that can also be a borrowed version of the English word 'stove'.
- Because Maori is a VSO (verb-subject-object) language, the structure of wishes often differs from English word order.
Examples in context
- Kia pai tō wiki.Have a good week.
- Kia pai tō wiki ki te mahi.Have a good week at work.
- Kia pai tō wiki, e hoa.Have a good week, friend.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are leaving work on Friday.
- ManaiaKia pai tō wiki, Kahu.Have a good week, Kahu.
- KahuKia pai hoki tō wiki, Manaia.Have a good week too, Manaia.
- ManaiaKa kite i a koe i te Rāhina.See you on Monday.
- KahuAe, ka kite.Yes, see you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pai, tō, wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
