Ko te Mane tēnei rā
The English phrase 'today is Monday' is translated into Maori as Ko te Mane tēnei rā.
This phrase is a statement used to identify that the current day of the week is Monday.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase can be understood literally as 'Is the Monday this day'. The word tēnei means 'this' and is used here to specify the current day.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Ko te Mane tēnei rā, the word tēnei means 'this' and serves to specify the current day.
Did you know?
- The term rā shares an ancient linguistic ancestor with the Malay word layar, which means 'sail'.
- In some Pacific cultures, the concept of 'day' was historically linked to warmth or light, a nuance reflected in the evolution of words like rā.
Examples in context
- E hoa, ko te Mane tēnei rā.Friend, today is Monday.
- Ko te Mane tēnei rā, kua tīmata te haere.Today is Monday, the journey has begun.
Example conversation
Maia and Manaia are checking their school schedule.
- MaiaKo te Mane tēnei rā?Is today Monday?
- ManaiaĀe, ko te Mane tēnei rā.Yes, today is Monday.
- MaiaHe rā kōrero tēnei rā.Today is a speaking day.
- ManaiaKa pai, haere mai.Good, let's go.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Mane, rā, te, tēnei, CC BY-SA 4.0.
