kia ora, ko taku ingoa ko
The English phrase "hi, my name is" is translated into Maori as kia ora, ko taku ingoa ko.
This phrase is used to greet someone and introduce yourself by stating your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The component ko taku ingoa ko literally translates to "is my name is" because the particle ko is used to introduce a proper noun.
Which one should you use?
Alternatively, you can use ko [name] taku ingoa to state your name. For a more formal greeting, you can say Tēnā koe, ko [your name] tōku ingoa, which means "Greetings to you, [your name] is my name.", or use the informal Kia ora, [your name] tōku ingoa. which means "Hello, [your name] is my name."
How does it change in a sentence?
In these constructions, the particle ko is used before the name itself to function as "is", "am" or "are" specifically for names.
Did you know?
- In traditional Māori culture, a full introduction often goes beyond a name to include pepeha, which links the speaker to their mountain, river and ancestral lands.
- In Maori, the concept of 'existing' and 'living' is tied to the very core of how you greet someone, as the greeting itself is rooted in the concept of being alive.
- The word for 'name', which is ingoa, shares a common ancestor with the Hawaiian word 'inoa', showing how these distant-sounding languages are actually closely related.
Examples in context
- Tēnā koe, ko Hemi tōku ingoa.Greetings to you, my name is Hemi.
- Tēnā koe, Hana ahau.Hi, I am Hana.
- Kia ora, Hemi tōku ingoa.Hello, Hemi is my name.
- Kia ora, ko taku ingoa ko Rawiri.Hi, my name is Rawiri.
- Kia ora, ko taku ingoa ko Mere.Hi, my name is Mere.
- Kia ora, ko taku ingoa ko Tama.Hi, my name is Tama.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a community event.
- ManaiaKia ora, ko taku ingoa ko Manaia.Hi, my name is Manaia.
- ArohaKia ora, ko taku ingoa ko Aroha. No hea koe?Hi, my name is Aroha. Where are you from?
- ManaiaNō tēnei kainga au.I am from this town.
- ArohaHe pai tērā, Manaia.That is good, Manaia.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ingoa, ora, taku, CC BY-SA 4.0.
