Te Reo Māori: Introduction to Pronunciation

Develop your understanding of the pronunciation of the Māori language

The Māori language, culture, people, and land are intrinsically connected, with the language being the vehicle for that connection. To pronounce the Māori language correctly is to show respect for the people, culture, land, and history of New Zealand.

This course from EduMaxi and Sharon Holt is built around a series of one-minute videos that will introduce you to Māori language pronunciation and give you the confidence needed to correctly pronounce common Māori words and phrases.

Discover the basics of te reo Māori pronunciation

You’ll start by breaking down Māori words into smaller chunks to learn the rules for vowels and consonants. With each vowel sound, you’ll practise using different words and phrases, from sit and work together to informal farewells.

Once you’ve learnt all of the vowel sounds, you’ll learn some more difficult examples with vowel blends.

Explore Māori words and place names from everyday vocabulary

Many Māori words appear in the everyday vocabulary of New Zealand so it’s important to understand their meanings and pronunciation. You’ll delve into these words before moving on to Māori greetings and their correct pronunciation.

By the end of this course, you’ll have the confidence to correctly use and pronounce place names, numbers, birds, and tree names, as well as greetings and common phrases in the Māori language.

Learn Māori with award-winning author Sharon Holt and EduMaxi

This course is delivered by Sharon Holt, award-winning author of 26 Te Reo Singalong books, which are used widely by teachers and children throughout New Zealand.

As a non-Māori who became a Māori language learner, Sharon understands the language learning process and breaks it into bite-sized chunks.

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in learning the basics of the Māori language. It will be especially useful if you live in New Zealand or plan to travel to the country, either for work, study, or on holiday.

• Learn the sounds of the Māori language
• Understand the “why” and “how” of Māori language learning.
• Learn about the importance of vowels
• Pronounce the “a” sound, and break words into smaller chunks at the vowel
• Pronounce the “e” and “i” sounds, and learn an informal farewell phrase
• Pronounce the “o” and “u” sounds, and learn a short phrase.
• Practise vowel blends to the tune of a well known song
• Week 1 in retrospect
• Put your learning into practice
• Practise the vowel blends “au” and “ai”
• Learn how macrons lengthen the sound of vowels
• Practise words with macrons
• Practise New Zealand place names
• Pronounce some consonants and a new phrase
• Pronounce the letter “r” and learn a greeting
• Recap Week 2
• Extend your learning
• Practise the pronunciation of the letter “t”
• Practise the pronunciation of the “ng” and “wh” sounds
• Practise the numbers 1 - 10
• Practise the pronunciation of New Zealand birds and trees
• Practise the pronunciation of formal greetings
• Learn two new Māori phrases and a word of encouragement