tēnā koe
/ˈteːnaː ˈkoe/
The phrase "nice to meet you" in Maori is tēnā koe.
This phrase is used as a polite greeting when meeting someone for the first time.
What does it mean word for word?
The word koe means "you" in the singular form.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the phrase changes depending on how many people you are addressing. Use tēnā kōrua if you are addressing exactly two people, and use tēnā koutou if you are addressing more than one person.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈteːnaː ˈkoe/
Did you know?
- While tēnā koe is a greeting, it is often accompanied by a hongi, where two people press their noses and foreheads together to share the breath of life.
- In Maori culture, the way you address someone is deeply tied to 'mana', or their spiritual power, which is why choosing the correct form of tēnā is vital for politeness.
- The word koe is thought by some linguists to be onomatopoeic, potentially mimicking a sound to signify the person being addressed.
Examples in context
- Tēnā koe.Nice to meet you.
- Tēnā koe, e hoa.Nice to meet you, friend.
Example conversation
Manaia and Aroha meet for the first time at a community event.
- ManaiaKia ora! Tēnā koe, ko Manaia tēnei.Hello! Nice to meet you, this is Manaia.
- ArohaKia ora, Manaia. Ko Aroha tēnei.Hello, Manaia. This is Aroha.
- ManaiaHe rā whakahirahira tēnei, nē?It is a wonderful day, isn't it?
- ArohaAe, he rā tino pai tēnei.Yes, it is a very good day.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tēnā koe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries koe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
