Ko wai tō ingoa?
Ko wai tō ingoa? is the Maori way to say "what is your name?"
This phrase is a question used to ask a person for their name.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "Who is your name?" because wai means "who" and ingoa means "name".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word tō is the possessive pronoun for 'your' when referring to a single person (singular second person). To ask for multiple names, the possessive pronoun changes from tō to ō to match the plural ingoa (names) in Ko wai ō ingoa?
When do people say it?
A natural way to respond is using the structure Ko [Name] tōku ingoa, which means "My name is [Name]".
Did you know?
- In traditional Māori culture, a person's name is often tied to their whakapapa, which is their genealogical descent and identity.
- The word wai is a cognate of the Malay word air, meaning 'water'.
- Because names are so spiritually significant, some Māori people may be hesitant to share their full name with strangers.
Examples in context
- Ko Reihana ahau.I am Reihana.
- E hoa, ko wai tō ingoa?Friend, what is your name?
Example conversation
Two people meet for the first time at a community event.
- ManaiaKia ora! Ko wai tō ingoa?Hello! What is your name?
- ArohaKo Aroha tōku ingoa.My name is Aroha.
- ManaiaKo Manaia tōku ingoa. Nō tōku taha koe?My name is Manaia. Are you from my side?
- ArohaĂe, nō tōku taha koe.No, you are from my side.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ingoa, tō, wai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
