e mokemoke ana ahau ki a koe
The English phrase "I miss you" is translated into Māori as e mokemoke ana ahau ki a koe.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is built around the word mokemoke, which means "lonely". The word ahau is the first-person singular pronoun "I", and koe is the singular pronoun for "you".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the structure e… ana around the word mokemoke to indicate a continuous state or ongoing action, effectively meaning "is/am being lonely".
Did you know?
- In Māori culture, the concept of mokemoke is often tied to the loss of connection with land or ancestors, not just a person. This gives the phrase a spiritual dimension regarding belonging.
- The word koe for 'you' is shared across a vast geographic area. It is a cognate of the Hawaiian word ʻoe and the Rapa Nui word koe.
- The word mokemoke describes a deep, aching loneliness. Because of this, saying e mokemoke ana ahau ki a koe suggests a more profound sense of isolation and longing than the casual English 'I miss you'.
Examples in context
- E mokemoke ana ahau ki a koe i tēnei wā.I miss you at this time.
- E mokemoke ana ahau ki a koe i te kāinga.I miss you at home.
- E mokemoke ana ahau ki a koe, e hoa.I miss you, my friend.
Example conversation
Maia and Manaia are talking on a video call.
- MaiaTēnā koe, Manaia.Hello, Manaia.
- ManaiaKia ora, Maia. Kei te pēhea koe?Hi, Maia. How are you?
- MaiaE mokemoke ana ahau ki a koe.I miss you.
- ManaiaKo au hoki, e hoa.Me too, my friend.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ana, koe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
