Heritage Language
Māori
Companion: Sefina
"Navigator, keeper of the Pacific. She carries the old knowledge — star paths, wave reading, the languages that crossed the largest ocean on earth."
What You'll Learn
9
story arcs
32,313
vocabulary entries
A1–C2
CEFR levels
Story Arcs
Tēnā koe
Te Whenua — The Land
Te Marae — The Sacred Space
+ 4 more arcs
Wisdom from this tradition
Kia mau ki te aka matua
kia mau ki te aka matua
Literal: "Hold fast to the main root of the tree"
Stay connected to your core identity and values — be flexible in branches but firm in roots.
— Māori whakatauki
Nga whakaaro nui e takahi ana i te ao
ngā whakaaro nui e takahi ana i te ao
Literal: "Great thoughts that walk the world"
Ideas of sufficient depth and truth move through the world independently, finding their own audiences.
— Māori philosophical tradition
Ko te pae tawhiti
ko te pae tawhiti
Literal: "The distant horizon"
The vision of what lies ahead — the far horizon is not a boundary but an invitation to voyaging.
— Māori navigational tradition
Ngakau whakaaro
ngakau whakaaro
Literal: "Heart of thought / Thoughtful heart"
The integration of heart (ngakau) and thought (whakaaro) — neither alone is sufficient for wisdom.
— Māori tradition
Ko Ranginui e tu iho nei
ko Ranginui e tū iho nei
Literal: "Ranginui stands above"
The sky father stands over all — the heavens watch, and all actions are seen.
— Māori cosmological tradition
Start Learning Māori
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