“Ko te tinana he whare mō te wairua.” / “The body is a house for the spirit.”
Traditional Māori proverb
The human body is a great place to start when learning te reo Māori. After all, we all have one, and it connects language to real experiences. You can learn the Māori words for body parts, and you'll be able to start explaining how you feel, move, and express yourself. Let's explore this critical Māori vocabulary and how to use it.
Just like learning how to tell the time in Māori, you should also know the vocabulary for basic body parts. The head and face are key in Māori culture, like they are in many others. For many, their face is their identity, and it's how we recognise people. In Māori culture, it's even more critical culturally. Here's the vocabulary you should know.
As humans, we pay more attention to faces, so it's worthwhile learning the appropriate vocabulary. | Photo by Frames For Your Heart
Common Vocabulary and Usage
Upoko / Māhunga – Head
Karu – Eye
Taringa – Ear
Ihu – Nose
Waha – Mouth
Niho – Tooth / Teeth
Makawe – Hair (on the head)
Huruhuru – Hair / Feather
Ringa – Arm / Hand
Matimati – Fingers
Pakihiwi – Shoulder
Uma – Chest
Tuarā – Back
Manawa – Heart
Toto – Blood
Example Sentences
Kei te māhunga tōku mamae. – My head hurts.
Katia ō karu! – Close your eyes!
Whakarongo ki ō taringa. – Listen with your ears.
Kei te mātao tōku ihu. – My nose is cold.
Kaua e kōrero mā tō waha kapi. – Don’t speak with your mouth full.
He mā ōku niho. – My teeth are white.
He roa ōna makawe. – Her hair is long.
He huruhuru te manu. – The bird has feathers.
Whakamaua tō ringa ki te rorohiko. – Put your hand on the computer.
E rima ōku matimati i tēnei ringa. – I have five fingers on this hand.
He mamae tōku pakihiwi. – My shoulder is sore.
He whero tōna uma i te rā. – His chest is red from the sun.
Whakamahia tō tuarā i te mahi kaha. – Use your back for the heavy work.
He kaha tōna manawa. – She has a strong heart.
Kei te rere te toto. – The blood is flowing.
Around
21%
of Māori can speak te reo Māori conversationally.
Lower Body and Movement Words
Learning these Māori words can help you describe family members, physical activity, dance, and even emotion, with movement and feeling often connected in te reo Māori. Here are the key words you need to know from roughly below your chest. Note the tricky ones and practise pronouncing them.
While we mostly focus on faces, you should learn the words for the rest of the body. | Photo by Ana Dujmovic
Common Vocabulary and Usage
Puku – Stomach
Hope – Hips
Turi – Knee
Pona – Ankle
Waewae – Leg / Foot
Matimati waewae – Toes
Rekereke – Heel
Uaua – Muscle
Tinana – Body
Example Sentences
He nui tōna puku i te kai pai. – His stomach is big from good food.
Kōpeke ō hope i te hākinakina. – Your hips tighten during exercise.
Whakatika ō turi! – Straighten your knees!
He mamae tōku pona i te oma roa. – My ankle is sore from the long run.
Horoi ō waewae i mua i te haere ki te whare. – Wash your feet before going into the house.
E rima ōku matimati waewae i tēnā waewae. – I have five toes on that foot.
I whara tōku rekereke i te hākinakina. – I injured my heel playing sport.
He uaua tōna tinana i te mahi kaha. – His body is muscular from hard work.
Tiakina tō tinana. – Take care of your body.
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Learning tip
Try saying each word while touching or pointing to the body part. Associating movement with sound helps you remember vocabulary faster.
The key to learning new words effectively is learning how to say them. Don't just read these words, learn how to say them as authentically as you can and take your sentences further with adjectives like colours. Of course, you can practise with this video.
1. Feel the Words in Your Mouth
A lot of body vocabulary uses open vowel sounds that make you move your face and mouth naturally. For example:
Waha (mouth) uses a wide, open a — say it like “wah-hah.”
Ihu (nose) ends with the u “oo” sound, which makes your lips round like you’re blowing air.
Taringa (ear) has three clear syllables: TA-ree-ngah.
Practise in front of a mirror — it helps you see how each vowel and consonant shape changes your face and lips, which also reinforces learning the body words themselves.
Focus on the pronunciation of your new words. | Photo by Timothy Dykes
2. Say Every Syllable
Unlike English, Māori doesn’t blur syllables together. Every vowel is pronounced clearly.
Mā-hu-nga (head) – three clear beats.
Wa-e-wa-e (foot/leg) – four quick steps in sound.
Ka-ru (eye) – both vowels should be distinct.
Think of each word like a rhythm — each beat matters.
3. Long Vowels Change the Feel
Macrons show long vowels, and with body words, they often make the word sound more deliberate or softer.
Māhunga (head) vs. mahunga (incorrect).
Tōku ringa (my hand) – draw out the ō sound slightly: “toh-koo.”
These long vowels make your speech flow more naturally, almost like a breath.
4. The “Wh” Breath
You’ll notice many Māori words about speaking or breathing, like waha (mouth) or whakatā (to rest), begin with wh. It’s a breathy “f” sound that comes from the same part of your mouth you use for gentle exhaling. When you say whānau or whakarongo, let it flow like air rather than force it.
5. Rolling the “R”
Words like ringa (hand) and karu (eye) have a rolled or tapped "r". It's light and quick. Your tongue just brushes the roof of your mouth. Try saying ringa several times until it feels natural. If you can say “ladder” quickly in English, you’re already halfway there. That middle dd sound is close to the Māori r.
6. Common Mistakes
Blending vowels: Don’t shorten ringa to “ring-er.”
Skipping syllables: Say waewae with both wae sounds clearly.
Losing rhythm: Māori pronunciation flows evenly; don’t stress the last syllable.
7. Listening and Learning
The best way to master pronunciation is to listen. Tune in to Māori radio or watch short videos that teach te reo Māori to kids — these often include body parts, songs or actions that connect movement and sound, and appropriate vocabulary, such as Māori words for animals.
Around
37,000
full-time tertiary students were learning Māori in 2023.
Grammar and Possession with Body Parts
There are some special rules for talking about body parts and possession. Here are the rules. However, we recommend that you regularly practise sample sentences and use the terms in conversation to aid memory.
Singular Possession: “My Head” or “My Hand”: Use taku (my) or tōku (my, formal or specific). For example, Tōku ringa means “my hand.” The macron on tōku lengthens the vowel and adds formality.
Plural Possession: “My Eyes” or “My Hands”: Use ōku (my, plural) when referring to more than one body part. For example, ōku karu means “my eyes,” and ōku waewae means “my feet.”
A/Ō Category Rule: Body Parts Use the Ō Category: Body parts belong to the Ō category because they are part of you rather than something you control or give away. That’s why you say ōku taringa (my ears), not āku taringa.
Describing a Body Part: “Her Hair Is Long”: Use he to describe a body part. For example, He roa ōna makawe means “Her hair is long.” The word ōna means “her,” showing possession.
Talking About Feelings or Conditions: “My Leg Hurts”: Use Kei te to describe what your body is doing or feeling. For example, Kei te mamae tōku waewae means “My leg hurts.” Kei te indicates a current state.
Location or Where It Hurts: “The Pain Is in My Hand”: Use i or kei to show where something is happening. For example, Kei te ringa tōku mamae means “The pain is in my hand.”
Talking Politely About Someone Else’s Body: Use tōna (his/her, singular) or ōna (his/her, plural). For example, He mā ōna niho means “His teeth are white.”
Using Body Vocabulary in Everyday Sentences
An excellent way to remember new vocabulary is through use. Use your new words for body parts in sentences. Here are some sample sentences for you to try.
Describing Pain or Sensation
Kei te mamae tōku māhunga. – My head hurts.
Kei te makariri ōku waewae. – My feet are cold.
Kei te ngenge tōku tinana. – My body is tired.
Talking About Appearance
He roa ōna makawe. – Her hair is long.
He mā ōku niho. – My teeth are white.
He pango ōna karu. – His eyes are dark.
Giving Simple Instructions
Whakarongo mā ō taringa. – Listen with your ears.
Whakaatu mai ō ringa. – Show me your hands.
Katia ō karu! – Close your eyes!
Titiro ki tō ihu i te whakaata. – Look at your nose in the mirror.
Talking About Health and Exercise
Kei te oma tōna tinana ia rā. – His body runs every day (He runs daily).
Kei te mamae ōku uaua i te hākinakina. – My muscles are sore from sport.
Kei te manawa ora ia. – He/she is full of life (lit. “has a living heart”).
Describing Touch and Movement
Pa atu ki tō ringa matao. – Touch your cold hand.
Whakatū tō tinana. – Stand up straight.
Whakamahia ō waewae! – Use your legs!
Combine your new anatomical words with descriptors to describe how people move and act. | Photo by Ardian Lumi
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Tip for learners
Practice these phrases while pointing to each body part. Saying karu while touching your eyes or taringa while touching your ears builds memory through movement. This is a classic method in te reo Māori classrooms.
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Joseph P
Joseph is a French and Spanish to English translator, copywriter, and all-round language enthusiast.
Some of the most common Māori body words include māhunga (head), karu (eyes), taringa (ears), waewae (legs), and ringa (hands).
👁 How do you say “eyes” in Māori?
The Māori word for "eyes" is karu. It’s pronounced kah-roo with two clear syllables. You can use it in simple sentences like Katia ō karu! which means “Close your eyes!”
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