Parts of the Body in Māori

Ngā Wāhanga o Te Tinana – Parts of the body in Māori

In Māori, the noun doesn’t change in singular or plural form. The article before the noun shows whether there is one or more of that thing. For example: te karu (the eye) and nga karu (the eyes)

Te tinana – the body
Tinana is also used for the trunk of a tree which is the “body” of the tree.

Ngā Wāhanga o Te Tinana - Parts of the body in Māori

The following is a list of parts of the body in Māori with their translation in English. Note: there are sometimes regional differences of the names and spelling of some of the parts of the body. These are the most common words:

Te Kanohi – The Face

  • arero –  tongue
  • hurungutu – moustache
  • ihu – nose
  • kamo / kamokamo – eyelash (also hurikaikamo)
  • kanohi – face (also konohi in eastern dialect)
  • karu – eye(s) (also whatu)
  • kauae – chin
  • kimo / kimokimo – eyelid (sometimes kamo too)
  • māhunga – head (also ūpoko)
  • nana – eyebrow (also tukemata)
  • ngutu – lip(s)
  • niho – teeth
  • pāhau – beard / sometimes also means moustache (also paihau)
  • pāpāringa – cheek
  • pongāihu – nostril
  • rae – forehead
  • taringa – ear
  • tukemata – eyebrow (also nana)
  • ūpoko – head (also māhunga)
  • waha – mouth
  • whatu – eye(s) (also karu)

The Arm and Hand

  • kapunga – palm (of the hand)
  • kawititanga – wrist
  • kikopuku – upper arm
  • kikowhiti – forearm / lower arm
  • matimati – finger (also used for toe)
  • pokohiwi – shoulder (also pakihiwi)
  • ringa – hand / arm
  • ringaringa – hand / arm
  • tuke – elbow (also whatianga – which also refers to a joint of an arm or a leg)

The Hand and Fingers

See the photo of the parts of the hand below: (coming soon)

  • 1. ringa – hand / arm (also ringaringa)
  • 2. kōnui – thumb (also tōnui) (both also mean big toe)
  • 3. kōroa – index finger (also kororoa and takoroa)
  • 4. māpere – middle finger (also tōroa)
  • 5. mānawa – ring finger
  • 6. kōiti – little finger (also tōiti)
  • 7. maikuku – fingernail (also toenail)
  • 8. monamona – knuckle

The names of the fingers can also be applied to the names of the toes. Māpere can mean middle finger or middle toe.

The Leg and Foot

  • ateate – calf (muscle)
  • kapukapu – sole of the foot
  • kūwhā – thigh (also kūhā)
  • maikuku – toenail (also fingernail)
  • matimati – toe (used for finger too) (also matiwae)
  • pona – knee (also turi)
  • raparapa – ankle (also whatīanga raparapa)
  • rekereke – heel
  • tāhau – shin (also )
  • turi – knee (also pona)
  • waewae – leg (also foot)

Other parts of the body

  • hope – hip(s) / waist
  • huruhuru – body hair (not the hair on your head)
  • ira – mole / freckle
  • kakī – neck
  • māhunga – hair (also makawe) – māhunga can also mean head.
  • makawe – hair (also māhunga)
  • pāhau – beard (also paihau)
  • puku – stomach (belly)
  • tuarā – back
  • uma – chest (also poho)

Internal parts of the body

  • ate – liver
  • kōiwi – bone
  • kōpū – womb / uterus
  • korokoro – throat
  • manawa – heart
  • paemanu – collarbone (also āhei)
  • rara – rib
  • roro – brain
  • toto – blood

I hope you found this list of body parts in Māori useful.

Lesson tags: Body, Maori, Vocabulary
Back to: Learn Maori > Basic Maori

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