The Māori language (Te Reo Māori) is part of New Zealand's culture and identity. The language has a tumultuous history of European colonisation, but recent efforts to revitalise it have led to increased language learning in schools, workplaces, and daily communication. Understanding the days of the week in Māori is just one way to be a part of this, whether you're a student in a classroom, a teacher looking for resources, or just interested in Te Reo Māori. Here's our guide to the days of the week in Māori.
The Days of the Week in Māori
Much like in English, in Te Reo Māori the days of the week follow a naming pattern that largely refers to celestial bodies such as planets and stars. In English, these are named after Norse and Roman gods, with equivalents often shared across other European languages. However, in Māori, the days of the week also have unique names that reflect daily life and cultural traditions.
people in New Zealand can speak at least some Māori
Structure (How the Names Work)
- All Māori days begin with “Rā”, meaning “day” or “sun.”
- This reflects the importance of natural cycles and the sun in traditional Māori timekeeping.
- The rest of the word often links to celestial bodies or cultural naming patterns.
Cultural Meaning
Some days reflect daily life and traditions, not just astronomy.
For example:
- Rāhoroi means “washing day”
- Rātapu means “sacred day”
These show how language connects to Māori customs and routines.
Modern Use
Māori days of the week are used alongside English in:
- Schools and classrooms
- Government and public signage
- Media and broadcasting
They are part of New Zealand’s bilingual identity and ongoing language revitalisation.
| English | Māori (Te Reo) | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Rāhina | RAH-hee-nah | Day of the Moon |
| Tuesday | Rātū | RAH-too | Day of Mars |
| Wednesday | Rāapa | RAH-ah-pah | Day of Mercury |
| Thursday | Rāpare | RAH-pah-reh | Day of Jupiter |
| Friday | Rāmere | RAH-meh-reh | Day of Venus |
| Saturday | Rāhoroi | RAH-hoh-roi | Washing Day |
| Sunday | Rātapu | RAH-tah-poo | Sacred Day |
Understanding the Pattern of Māori Days of the Week
At first glance, you'll have likely started to understand the pattern for Māori days of the week or telling the time. Every Māori day starts with “Rā”, which means “day” or “sun”.
Every Māori day begins with "Rā," meaning "day" or "sun." This reflects the connection between timekeeping and natural elements, with the sun playing a crucial role in traditional Māori life.
Like in English and many other languages, Monday through Friday are named after planets. However, Saturday (Rāhoroi) translates to "washing day," which comes with the tradition of doing laundry on Saturdays.
Sunday (Rātapu) means “sacred day” and carries traditional religious and spiritual significance.
Pronouncing the Days of the Week in Māori
Though you should really look to learn from a Māori teacher or tutor, here's our quick guide to how you pronounce the days of the week in Māori. After you've mastered these, you can move on to the months in Māori.
- Rā – Sounds like "rah" (long "a" sound)
- Hina – Sounds like "hee-nah" (soft “h”)
- Tū – Sounds like "too" (like English "two")
- Apa – Sounds like "ah-pah"
- Pare – Sounds like "pah-reh"
- Mere – Sounds like "meh-reh"
- Horoi – Sounds like "hoh-roi"
- Tapu – Sounds like "tah-poo"
Common Uses of Māori Days in Daily Life
The quickest and easiest way to learn the days of the week in Māori is to hear and use them. Here are the most obvious places where you'll hear them being used, often alongside the months and the seasons in Māori.
of New Zealand schools include Māori language learning
- Schools and Classrooms – Māori days of the week are often displayed on posters, flashcards, and labels.
- Calendars and Events – Many businesses, government offices, and Māori organisations use Māori dates alongside English names.
- Media and Communication – Radio stations, newspapers, and TV programs in Te Reo Māori frequently mention days in Māori.
Learning the days of the week in Māori helps support language revival, respect for Māori culture, and bilingualism in New Zealand's signage and education.
Understanding the Origins of Māori Days of the Week
As you may have already noticed, the days of the week in Te Reo Māori blend traditional Māori concepts with distinctly European influences. This is partly because Māori people used a lunar-based calendar (Maramataka) before adopting the seven-day week.
The Traditional Māori Concept of Time
The Western calendar, which divides time into weeks, months, and years, was unlike the traditional Māori calendar. This included:
- Lunar Phases – Each month (marama) was determined by the lunar cycle rather than a fixed (seemingly arbitrary) number of days.
- Natural Cycles – Seasonal changes that affected weather, fishing, and planting were used as measures of time.
- Event-based Days – Rather than days like “Monday” and “Tuesday”, Māori people had days like “the day after the full moon” or “the day when we harvest”.
So how did Māori culture end up with days of the week when they didn't initially follow a seven-day week?
European Influence and the Seven-Day Week
In the early 19th century, missionaries arrived in New Zealand and brought Christianity and the Western calendar with them. This means that the Māori were introduced to the concept of a fixed weekly schedule that included seven days. They were also introduced to the idea that there was a sacred day (Sunday) for rest and worship. From there, Māori days of the week adopted the European system of naming days after celestial bodies such as Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, etc.
Since Māori had no word for "week," the word "wiki" in Māori is borrowed from the English word "week".
Why Is Saturday Called “Washing Day” (Rāhoroi)?
The Māori for Saturday (Rāhoroi) is one of the days that doesn't follow a planetary naming system. It comes from the Te Reo Māori phrase “rā horoi kākahu”, meaning “the day to wash clothes”. Though this is a Māori tradition, it was introduced to the Māori by Christian missionaries, who encouraged Māori communities to wash their clothes on Saturdays so they would be clean for church services on Sundays. The practice became so widespread that the Rāhoroi (shortened from "Rā Horoi") became the actual name for Saturday in the Māori language.
Blending Māori and English Timekeeping
Māori timekeeping wasn't completely erased by the Western calendar, even though a seven-day week was adopted. The Māori names for the days of the week are still used in New Zealand alongside English for everyday contexts. However, the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) is still used to mark important cultural events, such as Matariki (Māori New Year).
Despite adopting the seven-day week, the traditional Māori lunar calendar (Maramataka) is still used for farming, fishing, and seasonal cultural events.
How to Use Māori Days of the Week in Sentences
Knowing the Māori days of the week is useful, but using them in real, structured sentences is even better. Whether you're talking about dates, events, or schedules, some of these expressions should help you in Māori conversations.
Talking About Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
Here are some common phrases for referring to different days:
- What day is it today?
- He aha te rā i tēnei wiki?
- Today is Monday.
- Ko te Rāhina tēnei rā.
- Yesterday was Sunday.
- Ko te Rātapu inanahi.
- Tomorrow is Wednesday.
- Ka tae mai a Rāapa āpōpō.
Grammar tip:
- Inanahi = Yesterday
- Āpōpō = Tomorrow
- Tēnei rā = Today
Saying "On a Specific Day"
When talking about something happening on a specific day, use "kei" or "ā" before the day:
- The meeting is on Wednesday.
- Kei te Rāapa te hui.
- I will see you on Friday!
- Ka kite i a koe ā Rāmere!
- The trip is on Sunday.
- Kei Rātapu te haerenga.
Grammar tip:
- Use "Kei" when stating something is happening on a specific day.
- Use "Ā" when referring to a future event on a specific day.
Talking About Weekly Activities
Here’s how to talk about recurring events that happen every week:
- We have Māori class every Monday.
- Kei ia Rāhina tō mātou karaehe Reo Māori.
- I go to the gym on Tuesdays.
- Ka haere au ki te whare hākinakina i ngā Rātū.
- Our family gathers every Sunday.
- Ka hui tō mātou whānau ia Rātapu.
Grammar tip:
- "Ia" before a day means "every" (e.g., ia Rāhina = every Monday).
- "Ngā" before a day makes it plural, meaning Tuesdays in general.
Asking and Answering About Schedules
Here are some useful phrases when talking about dates and schedules:
- What day is the test?
- He aha te rā o te whakamātautau?
- It’s on Thursday.
- Kei Rāpare te whakamātautau.
- When is the next Māori class?
- Āhea te karaehe Reo Māori e tīmata ai?
- It starts on Monday.
- Ka tīmata i te Rāhina.
Grammar tip:
- Āhea = "When?" (Used for asking about future events).
- Ka tīmata = "It starts."
Using Māori Days with Months and Numbers
When talking about specific dates and numbers, Māori follows this pattern:
- "The 5th of March is a Tuesday."
- Ko te rima o Maehe, he Rātū.
- "Her birthday is on the 20th of July."
- Kei te rua tekau o Hūrae tōna rā whānau.
Grammar tip:
- "Ko te" + (number) + "o" + (month) = The date.
- "He" before a day makes it a general statement (e.g., He Rātū te rima o Maehe = "The 5th of March is a Tuesday.").
Practice Exercise: Fill in the Blanks!
Try these sentences using the Māori days of the week:
- “Kei ______ te hui.” (The meeting is on Thursday.)
- “Ko ______ tēnei rā.” (Today is Monday.)
- “Ka haere au ki te kura i ngā ______.” (I go to school on Wednesdays.)
- “Ka kite i a koe ā ______!” (See you on Friday!)
Now that you better understand the Māori days of the week, you can start practising them more regularly.
Māori Days of the Week Summary and Meanings
Here are all the Māori days of the week and their meaning and pronunciation. Use this resource for learning, teaching, and daily communication!
| English | Māori (Te Reo) | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence in Māori | Translation in English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Rāhina | RAH-hee-nah | Day of the Moon | Ko te Rāhina tēnei rā. | Today is Monday. |
| Tuesday | Rātū | RAH-too | Day of Mars | Ka haere au ki te kura i ngā Rātū. | I go to school on Tuesdays. |
| Wednesday | Rāapa | RAH-ah-pah | Day of Mercury | He hui tā mātou ā Rāapa. | We have a meeting on Wednesday. |
| Thursday | Rāpare | RAH-pah-reh | Day of Jupiter | Āhea te whakamātautau? Kei Rāpare. | When is the test? It's on Thursday. |
| Friday | Rāmere | RAH-meh-reh | Day of Venus | Ka kite i a koe ā Rāmere! | See you on Friday! |
| Saturday | Rāhoroi | RAH-hoh-roi | Washing Day | I horoi kākahu mātou i te Rāhoroi. | We washed clothes on Saturday. |
| Sunday | Rātapu | RAH-tah-poo | Sacred Day | Ko Rātapu te rā tapu mō te whānau. | Sunday is the sacred day for the family. |
If you're finding Māori difficult, consider these words of encouragement or working with a private Māori tutor. There are plenty of them on the Superprof website, offering lessons for different levels, budgets, and learning styles. Since many offer the first session for free, you can even try a few before choosing the one that's right for you.
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