Home Introduction Grammar English-Rapanui
a e g h haka i k m n o p r t u v
- ma, (prep.) for (found in some cases instead of mo)
- ma'a, to know, to understand. ma'a tahaga, to know something through one's own knowledge, without having been taught by someone else.
- maaga,
- chick.
- maaga hâgai (or simply maaga) adoptive child.
- fishing bait (this is the general term; see moroki, maúnu o mamama. )
- maahu,
- steam, vapour, evaporation (but especially the steam that rises upon opening the earth oven).
- older brother, older brother's childen (those of a younger brother are called potu or hagupotu )
- ma'ama'a,
- stupid, demented, drunk; ma'ama'a-á te puoko o tou tagata era, that man is not right in the head
- light (of weight); huhuru ma'ama'a, light feathers
- maara, flat coastal area usable as landing stage.
- maari, rope, thick string. Pu maari, holes where ropes were kept at Rano Raraku.
- ma'ea, stone, rock.
- ma'eha, brightness, bright, to lighten, to brighten up; ku ma'eha-á, it has already lightened up.
- maemae, pale (of face, from fright, illness, etc.); insufficiently cooked.
- maga, branch (of tree).
- magai, fishhook (made of stone or of bone, much more curved inward than the type of hook called rou).
- magahaiga, part of the arm near the armpit, armpit.
- magamaga,
- finger ( rima matu'a neanea, thumb; tuhi henua, index finger; roaroa tahaga, middle finger; tuhia háûa, ring finger; komaniri-komanara, little finger).
- a seaweed (shaped like small fingers).
- magaro, gentle, mild; tagata magaro, mild-tempered person; vai magaro, fresh water.
- mageo, bitter, sour, acid; ava mageo, strong liquor; (fig.) oone mageo, unhealthy land; ko te mageo, te tokerau, the cold winds of the winter season (arch.)
- magerogero, to feel an itch, to feel itchy.
- magó, spotted dogfish, samll shark.
- magugu, anus.
- magúgúgúgu, tough, half raw, not well cooked.
- magugu-puro, niggardly, stingy, miserly.
- mahaga, baby (when able to stand by itself; the five stages of a baby's development are: kaukau, puepe. tahuri. totoro. mahaga).
- mahaki,
- companion, colleague; mo hatu o mahaki, for our companions' success (or happiness) (arch.)
- a fish (of small size).
- mahana,
- tepid, lukewarm, warm; vai mahana, warm water.
- to stop raining; he-mahana te ûa, the rain has stopped.
- mahani, to get used to something, to get on with someone, to follow a custom (good or bad); mahani-á au ki te ga me'e nei, I am used to living with these people.
- maharo, to admire something, to be astonished, to watch something with delight, interest, or amazement. maharoga, object of admiration.
- maheo, pus.
- mahera, to cheat (of children playing).
- mahia, transfer of a gift (when at a party someone is offered gifts and passes them on to others).
- mahiahia, light sea breeze.
- mahiha, hangnail (skin).
- mahigo, family (in the widest meaning), vassals, group of friends.
- mahimahi, a fish.
- mahina, moon; mahina omotohi, full moon; mahina ohiro, new moon.
- mahora, flat area.
- mahore, a fish (small, silver-coloured).
- mahu, to begin to heal (of an injury).
- mahú, decent, proper, self-controlled, chaste; tagata mahú, ina ekó oho i tu'a i te vî'e he is a decent man who does not chase women.
- mahuna, small skin tumours, pimples.
- mahute, a tree (Boussonetia papyrifera) formerly more abundant on the island, the fibres of which were used for clothing (see nua and hami).
- mai,
- (prep.) from, since; mai aganirá pemu'a from now on.
- before, prior to (referring to a future event certain to occur); mai ta'e oho au ki-Hiva, prior to my leaving for the continent (note the use of the negative, lit. "before I do not go...").
- short for ka-avai-mai, mai te kahu, give me the dress.
- hither (movement towards the speaker); ka-ho-mai ( = ka-oho-mai). come here! welcome! hoki-mai-á e îa, he has come back; ina kai garo'a-mai, he cannot understand it; ka-to'o-mai, come and get it;
- maîare, empty-handed (said jokingly to someone who comes back from a fishing trip empty-handed).
- maîka, banana (Musa sapientum). Ancient varieties were called ri'o, hihi, korotea, pia, pukapuka, naho'o.
- maikuku, nail, hoof.
- maitaki, clean, neat, pure, pretty, nice, beautiful, handsome. tagata rima maitaki, clean-handed man, correct man.
- Makemake, Makemake (the main god and creator).
- makenukenu, to beat (of pulse). he makenukenu te ûaûa (o te kakari rima), the pulse (of the wrist) beats.
- makere, an insect.
- maki, lymphatic ganglion.
- maki'iki'i, to be covered in tiny things such as seeds or similar minuscule objects (of things).
- makituu, clitoris.
- makohe, a bird (dark, white-breaster, long-winged sea bird).
- mako'i, a tree (Thespesia populnea), the fruit of this tree, any tough inedible fruit, sandalwood fruit: mako'i nau opata.
- mako'iko'i, kidney.
- mâkona, to eat one's fill, to be satisfied.
- makota, jealous.
- makua, physiognomy, physical appearance, face, visage. te makua o te poki era pehe makua o toona matu'a, that child resembles his father. ko te repa maitaki, te makua pe Tagaroa what a fine lad, he is the spit and image of Tagaroa.
- makupuna, grandson, granddaughter, grandchild.
- mama,
- to chew.
- to mouth-feed (arch.) he-mama i te vai tôa koia ko te tiapito kiroto ki te haha o te poki, she mouth-feeds the child with sugarcane juice together with tiapito juice.
- a sea mollusc (with an eight-horned shell).
- mamae, illness, pain, to be ill or in pain, afflicted. tagata mamae, the sick.
- mamahi, to argue, to quarrel, dispute, quarrel (see tatake ).
- mamaiá, to make a mistake; ku-mamaiá-koe you are wrong.
- mamahu, gentle, meek (also mahú); ta'e he mamahu ko koe e-ta'e me'e tako'a ena i taau, how very gentle you are, you do not do to others as they do to you.
- mamama,
- bait (finely minced, it is deposited on top of the fishhook, wrapped in the line itself). hau mamama, fishing line in which the bait is tied.
- mamama niuhi, shark.
- mamara,
- ill fame, bad reputation. kope mamara, suspicious youngster.
- way of living, habits.
- bad-tempered; e-û i koe, ko te korohua ena, korohua mamara; raá mo rivariva, raá mo riri. be careful with that old fellow, for he is bad-tempered; some days he is fine, some days he is cranky.
- sling stone.
- mâmari, egg, fish roe. mâmari ata rauhau, last small egg laid by a hen before she turns broody.
- mamoe, ewe, lamb (Tahitian term).
- mana,
- spiritual force, magical creative power, attributed to divine beings, kings and some other persons.
- to turn up at an opportune time, to come unexpected, all of a sudden, as if by magic.
- manana, to come out on an impulse, or spontaneously (of things); he-manana-mai ki haho te vânaga, words slip out (which should not be said, or are secret); he manana te tagi, to burst into tears.
- manaraga, to exist or to manifest oneself without external intervention. Te Atua me'e manaraga, ina oona hakaaraga; me'e ta'e manaraga te hetu'u, te henua; me'e aga o te Atua. God exists of his own, He has no procreator; the stars and the earth do not exist by themselves, they are the work of God. Kahu manaraga, clothing out of nowhere (said when you find strange clothes in your house, stolen by someone without your knowledge).
- manava, abdomen, belly, (fig.) affection, sensitivity, feelings; manava more, grief; manava mate, infatuated, in love (with something); ku-ká-á te manava, flared up, infuriated, irate; he-kava te manava, offended, to turn sour, embittered (see also hatu (manava hatu ).
- manavai, hollow where rainwater accumulates; anciently, small, round gardens, preferably situated in low shady spots, where the mahute tree was grown.
- mana'u, to think, to remember, thought, memory; ana noho au i Hiva, he topa-hakaou-mai te mana'u mo toou, when I am on the Continent, I will remember you; he-uru te mana'u rake rake, to be full of negative thoughts (v.g. despair); ku uru-á te mana'u rakerake, ina ekó mana'u hakaou i te me'e rivariva; e-ohonó, he-hakamate atu i a îa, he has become full negative thoughts, he no longer remembers the good things, he just goes and is killing himself.
- manega, cliff, dangerous pass, difficult climb.
- manege, biggish, largish (between itiiti and nuinui); kumara manege, a large sweet potato.
- maniga, to feel acidity on one's teeth: maniga-á te niho.
- maniri,
- to become numb with cold, to grow cold; he-maniri te hakari, the corpse grows cold; ku-maniri-á te kai, the food has grown cold.
- to go to sleep (of a limb), to become numb; ku-maniri-á tooku va'e, my foot has gone to sleep, has become numb.
- to feel dizzy; ku-maniri-á te puoko, I feel dizzy (lit.: [my] head has become dizzy).
- manu,
- bird; manu uru, bird figure (like the drawings or wooden figures once found in caves and houses); manu va'e e-há, four-legged bird (name given to the first sheep introduced to the island).
- insect. manupatia, wasp.
- bird's egg: mâmari manu.
- wild, untamed.
- song in which is expressed the desire to kill someone, or in which a crime is confessed: he-tapa i te manu (see tapa ).
- manunu, to be terrified, to feel overwhelmed with terror.
- mao, a verb only used in ku-mao-á, fine, I agree; mao, let him be; mao, ina ekó hakatagi, let him be, don't make him cry.
- maoa, to open up the earth oven and uncover the food once Sit is cooked (arch.) ina ekó maoa i te umu a Ama Anakio, you mustn't open Ama Anakio's oven, i.e. do not talk of past mistakes, don't dig up old quarrels.
- Maori, name of the country of origin of Hotu Matu'a which he fled with his people following a cataclysm in a land called Hiva.
- maori, wise teacher; tagata maori rogorogo, person who can recite the signs of the tablets; maori hare, house builder; maori îka, healer expert in treating fight injuries.
- mara, to start rotting, going bad (e.g. a lobster, a fish). See also mamara.
- mara, maramara, lump, bruise from a blow.
- maramara, ember.
- marama, month, light. The ancient names of the month were: Tua haro, Tehetu'upú, Tarahao, Vaitu nui, Vaitu poru, He Maro, He Anakena, Hora iti, Hora nui, Tagaroa uri, Ko Ruti, Ko Koró.
- Marama, name of an ancient tribe.
- mararía, barren, sterile, fruitless; henua ma raría, barren, unproductive land; aga mararía, useless, unproductive work, to fail (of an attempt): he-aga i te aga, kai rivariva, he-mararía.
- mare, asthma; ku-mare-á au, I have a bout of asthma.
- marego, bald; marego paka, completely bald.
- mareni, water melon; mareni papaa, melon (both are modern words).
- marere, to fall to pieces, to get spilled; ku marere-á te hare, the house has fallen to pieces (can also mean: it has been abandoned).
- marîa, calm, fair weather at sea; marîa-á a haho a te tai, the sea is calm; marîa raparapa, sea as calm as a millpond.
- marikuru,
- a white, clayey earth.
- a tree (Sapindus saponaria) of which very few specimens are left.
- marimoko, grimace.
- maripau, testicle.
- maro, a sort of small banner or pennant of bird feathers tied to a stick.
- maroa,
- to stand up, to stand.
- fathom (measure). See kumi.
- maroke, a tall, conica hat made of mahúte material and covered with small feathers.
- maruaki, to feel hungry, to be starving, hunger; he-topa te maruaki, to feel hungry.
- maruhi, a paralytic.
- marumaru, shady; ka-oho ki te kona marumaru, go in the shade.
- mata,
- tribe, people; te mata tûai-era-á, the ancient tribes.
- eye; mata ite, eyewitness.
- mesh: mata kupega.
- raw, uncooked, unripe, green, matamata, half-cooked, half-ripe.
- matá, obsidian.
- matagi,
- extremity of the net where the weaving ends, left side or left corner of a house.
- wind. Matagi tarupa last strong, cold winds after winter, after which people started their plantations (arch.)
- matakao,
- oar.
- matakao, uterus, womb.
- matakeva, one-eyed, cross-eyed; (fam.) scatterbrain, absent-minded person who cannot find things.
- mâtaki, to open.
- mataku, to ge afraid.
- matamata, kahi matamata, a tuna fish.
- Matamea, Mars, a planet held to be of bad portent.
- matamine, to wink, to signal with the eyelids.
- matapea, name of a tattoo beneath the eyes.
- matapia, bleariness of the eyes.
- matapuku, to bud (of trees and vegetables).
- matara, to come undone(of knots), to be free of obligations; ana mate te kenu, ku-matara-á taana ví'e. when the husband dies the wife is free.
- Matariki, Pleiades (group of stars in the constellation of Taurus).
- matato'a, tribal chieftain, chief, important person.
- matu'u,
- right side.
- brave man or commander of a group of warriors.
- matavai, tears; he-rei i te matavai, to shed tears; he-monomono te matavai, tears come in the eyes.
- mate,
- to die; he-mamate te gagata, many people die.
- to faint, to lose consciousness; he-tutu ka mate ró to beat someone senseless (often used hyperbole).
- to feel an overwhelming desire, to be dying for; he mate ki te vai, to be dying for a drink of water.
- manava mate, see manava.
- to be overwhelmed with pain: mate-á i te mamae.
- matega, death.
- matié, a creeping graminaceous (Cynodon dactylon).
- matiro, a fish.
- matou, we, us (see grammar).
- matu, (exclam.) let's go!
- matu'a,
- father (also matu'a tamâroa); matu'a hâgai, adoptive father or mother; matu'a ké, uncle, aunt, close relative.
- part of a net from which the weaving started: te matu'a o te kupega.
- matuku, a fish, of a rosy colour.
- mau,
- very, highly; ûka keukeu mau, very hard-working girl.
- to be plentiful; he-mau to te kaiga, the island abounds in food.
- properly.
- ma'u,
- to carry, to transport; he-ma'u-mai, to bring; he-ma'u-atu, to remove, ma'u tako'a, to take away with oneself; te tagata hau-ha'a i raro, ina ekó ma'u-tako'a i te hauha'a o te kaiga nei ana mate; bienes terrenales cuando muere. --> a rich man in this world world cannot take his earthly belongings with him when he dies.
- to fasten, to hold something fast, to be firm; ku ma'u-á te veo, the nail holds fast.
- to contain, to hold back; kai ma'u te tagi i roto, he could not hold his tears back.
- máûa, the two of us (oneself and a third person, second person excluded. See grammar) ka-noho koe he-oho máûa ki uta, you stay here, I am going up with him.
- maúga,
- last; aga mauga o te Ariki o Hotu Matu'a, King Hotu Matua's last work.
- hill, mountain.
- maúi, left side.
- maúku, pasture, grass.
- ma'uma'u vânaga, to tell tales, to spread gossip.
- maúnu, part of a fish used directly as a bait, and which is stuck on the hook without having been ground.