tō tau
/ˈtoː ˈtau/word by word
The Maori phrase for "your age" is tō tau.
This phrase is used to refer to the number of years a person has lived.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive pronoun tō (your, referring to a single person of unknown or neutral status) and the noun tau (year/age).
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are referring to the ages of multiple people, the possessive pronoun changes from tō to ō, resulting in ō tau.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtoː ˈtau/
Did you know?
- The root for tō in some Polynesian languages originally referred to 'sugar cane' before the plant failed to grow in New Zealand's colder climate.
- The word tau can also refer to a 'landing' or the act of a bird alighting, reflecting the language's deep connection to nature.
- In traditional Māori culture, age is often viewed through stages of life and experience rather than as a precise numerical count.
Examples in context
- He aha tō tau?What is your age?
Example conversation
Kahu and Rawiri are chatting about their birthdays.
- KahuKahu, he aha tō tau?Kahu, what is your age?
- RawiriE rua tekau tōku tau.My age is twenty.
- KahuKei a au hoki tēnā tau.I am that age too.
- RawiriHe tau pai tēnā!That is a good age!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (tō, tau) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tau, tō, CC BY-SA 4.0.
