Te Kōrerorero ki tō Tamaiti (Having a Conversation With Your Child)

These phrases might come in handy when you're having a ‘conversation' with your baby when they first start gurgling/making noises as if trying to converse with you. It might also be a good way for parents to develop some confidence in having light conversation with other adults. While intonation is important in conveying meaning, knowing some of these phrases is a good start.

 

 

What was that?

  • He aha tērā?

Really?

  • Inei?

You're very talkative this morning.

  • Kei te kī katoa tō puku i te kōrero i tēnei ata.

He/she said that?

  • Koinā tana kōrero?

Did he/she really say that?

  • E kī koinā tana kōrero!

Who told you?

  • Nā wai koe i kōrero?

Who told him/her?

  • Nā wai ia i kōrero?

Are you telling me lies?

  • Kei te kōrero teka koe?

  • Kei te kōrero parau koe?

  • Kei te rūkahu koe?

So it's all true then?

  • E kī he kōrero pono?

  • Nō reira he (kōrero) pono tonu?

Goodness me!

  • Kātahi rā hoki!

  • E hika!

Is that right?

  • E kī rā?

When (was this/that)?

  • Inahea (tēnei/tērā)?

How does he/she know?

  • He aha ia i mōhio ai?

He/she doesn't know.

  • Käore ia e mōhio.

He/she does know.

  • He mōhio tonu ia.

She's having you on.

  • Kei te raweke (noa iho) ia i a koe.

This is going from bad to worse.

  • Nā wai i hē kātahi ka hē kē atu.

Not to my knowledge.

  • Kaua ki tōku mōhio.

I don't think so.

  • Kaua ki taku mōhio.

No, that's wrong.

  • E kāo, kei te hē tēnā.

What (was that)?

  • He aha?

We're not worried, eh?

  • Kāore he aha ki a tāua, ne rā?

We don't care (about others).

  • Hei aha mā tāua.

Who cares.

  • Aua atu.

Can't be helped.

  • E taea te pēhea.

He/she can't help the way they are.

  • I wāna nei hoki.

You know more than I do.

  • He mōhio ake koe i a au.

We (two) know better than her/him.

  • He mōhio ake tāua i a ia.

Now look what you've got us into.

  • Nā wai hoki tāua i a koe.

I feel sorry for her/him.

  • Ka aroha anō ia.

I feel his/her pain.

  • Kei te rongo au i tana mamae.

She's/he's okay again.

  • Kua ora/pai anō ia.

That's good news.

  • Ka pai (tēnā kōrero).

We should stop gossiping.

  • Me mutu (kē) tā tāua kōhimuhimu.

What a cheek!

  • E kī, e kī!

She's got a cheek/nerve.

  • Tana hia kaha.

  • Tana hia pai.