kia ora
/ˈkia ˈora/
In Maori, 'thank you' can be expressed as kia ora.
kia ora is a versatile phrase used for greetings and can be used to say thank you in a casual context.
Meaning: an expression of gratitude (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kia ora literally translates to a wish for someone to be well or healthy.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkia ˈora/
Did you know?
- While kia ora is used for 'thank you' and 'hello', it is also used to show agreement or to say 'yes' during a conversation.
- The phrase kia ora is so central to New Zealand identity that it is used by people of all ethnicities and is common in government communications.
- The word ora is a linguistic relative of the Hawaiian word ola, which also refers to life or health.
Examples in context
- Kia ora mō te āwhina.Thank you for the help.
- Kia ora mō te kai.Thank you for the food.
- Kia ora mō te koha.Thank you for the gift.
Example conversation
Anahera hands Rawiri a cup of coffee.
- AnaheraAnei tou kawika.Here is your coffee.
- RawiriKia ora, Anahera.Thank you, Anahera.
- AnaheraHe mea iti noa.It is nothing.
- RawiriKa pai.That is good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thank you” translations and entries kia ora, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kia ora, ora, CC BY-SA 4.0.
