Māori
WordNet
noun
(1) The Oceanic language spoken by the Maori in New Zealand
(2) An ethnic minority of Polynesian and Melanesian descent who speak Maori and live in New Zealand
WiktionaryText
Etymology
- From Maori language term maori, meaning "aborigine", "native", "normal", "ordinary", or "plain".
Alternative spellings
- Māori: Preferred usage in Māori text. Macrons recommended by Māori Language Commission to indicate long vowel sounds in Māori words. Macrons also used in New Zealand English texts with Māori-related content.
- Mäori: Alternative usage in Māori text where macrons not available.
- Maaori: Alternative usage in Māori text with limited character sets.
Noun
- Language of the Maori.
- Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Member of the people of New Zealand.
Usage notes
The plural form "Maoris" is sometimes used for members of the people, but "Maori" is preferred, as the term is invariant in Māori.