Kia ora
Encyclopedia
Kia ora is a Māori language
greeting
which has entered New Zealand English
. It means literally "be well/healthy" and is translated as an informal "hi" at the Māori Language Commission website Kōrero Māori. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage website NZ History lists it as one of 100 Māori words every New Zealander should know, with a definition "Hi!, G'day! (general informal greeting)".
It also signifies agreement with a speaker at a meeting, as part of a culture which prizes oratory
as infotainment
. Other Māori greetings, "Tēnā koe" (one person), "Tēnā kōrua" (two people) and "Tēnā koutou" (three or more people), are also widely used.
Likewise, "kia ora" can follow a similar pattern to address different specific numbers of people. By itself, it can be used to address any number of people, but by adding "koe" (i.e. "kia ora koe") one can specify a greeting to a single person; "kōrua" (two people); "koutou" (three or more people); and by following with "tātou" one addresses all the people present, including the speaker themself.
The word is similar to the word "kia orana" found in some Pacific Island languages and with a similar meaning.
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
greeting
Greeting
Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings intentionally make their presence known to each other, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship or social status between individuals or groups of people coming in contact with each other...
which has entered New Zealand English
New Zealand English
New Zealand English is the dialect of the English language used in New Zealand.The English language was established in New Zealand by colonists during the 19th century. It is one of "the newest native-speaker variet[ies] of the English language in existence, a variety which has developed and...
. It means literally "be well/healthy" and is translated as an informal "hi" at the Māori Language Commission website Kōrero Māori. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage website NZ History lists it as one of 100 Māori words every New Zealander should know, with a definition "Hi!, G'day! (general informal greeting)".
It also signifies agreement with a speaker at a meeting, as part of a culture which prizes oratory
Oratory
Oratory is a type of public speaking.Oratory may also refer to:* Oratory , a power metal band* Oratory , a place of worship* a religious order such as** Oratory of Saint Philip Neri ** Oratory of Jesus...
as infotainment
Infotainment
Infotainment is "information-based media content or programming that also includes entertainment content in an effort to enhance popularity with audiences and consumers." It is a neologistic portmanteau of information and entertainment, referring to a type of media which provides a combination of...
. Other Māori greetings, "Tēnā koe" (one person), "Tēnā kōrua" (two people) and "Tēnā koutou" (three or more people), are also widely used.
Likewise, "kia ora" can follow a similar pattern to address different specific numbers of people. By itself, it can be used to address any number of people, but by adding "koe" (i.e. "kia ora koe") one can specify a greeting to a single person; "kōrua" (two people); "koutou" (three or more people); and by following with "tātou" one addresses all the people present, including the speaker themself.
The word is similar to the word "kia orana" found in some Pacific Island languages and with a similar meaning.
See also
- AlohaAlohaAloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, peace, compassion and mercy. Since the middle of the 19th century, it also has come to be used as an English greeting to say goodbye and hello...
- g'day
- Hear hearHear hearHear, hear is an expression used as a short, repeated form of hear him, hear him. It represents a listener's agreement with the point being made by a speaker...
- List of English words of Māori origin
- Māori influence on New Zealand EnglishMaori influence on New Zealand EnglishDuring the 19th century, New Zealand English gained many loanwords from the Māori language, mainly the names of birds, plants, fishes and places, but the flow stopped abruptly around the beginning of the 20th century...
- TalofaTalofaTalofa is a salutation or greeting in the Samoan language of the Samoan Islands.Talofa echoes in such phrases as ta'alofa in Tuvalu, aloha in Hawaiian and aro'a in Cook Islands Māori...