tēnā rawa atu koe
The Māori phrase for "many thanks" is tēnā rawa atu koe.
In formal settings, you might also encounter the expressions Ngā mihi nui ki a koe, meaning "Many thanks to you" or Ka nui te whakamiha ki a koe, which means "Great thanks to you".
Meaning: many thanks (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is composed of tēnā (a particle of respect or greeting), rawa atu (an intensifier meaning "very much" or "extremely") and koe (the singular pronoun for "you").
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Wellington, locals often use Kia ora in informal settings to express thanks.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address more than one person, replace the singular pronoun koe with the plural koutou to say tēnā rawa atu koutou (many thanks to you all).
Did you know?
- In Māori culture the act of giving thanks is often intertwined with mana or spiritual power and prestige.
- The word koe is thought to be onomatopoeic, meaning it may have originated from a sound rather than a descriptive concept.
- While tēnā rawa atu koe is the standard phrase for 'many thanks' the pronoun koe is a cognate with the Rapa Nui word koe.
Examples in context
- Tēnā rawa atu koe mō tō tautoko.Many thanks to you for your support.
- Tēnā rawa atu koe mō te āwhina.Many thanks to you for the help.
- Tēnā rawa atu koe i tēnei rā.Many thanks to you today.
Example conversation
Rawiri helps Anahera carry some heavy bags.
- AnaheraTēnā rawa atu koe, Rawiri.Many thanks, Rawiri.
- RawiriKāore he rerekē.No problem.
- AnaheraHe tino pai tō āwhina.Your help is very good.
- RawiriHe mea iti noa iho.It was just a small thing.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries koe, rawa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
