Māori Grammar

Mai is one of the direction particles in te reo Māori, along with atu (away from), iho (downwards) and ake (upwards).

It is used in sentences that clearly mean "towards me":

Haere mai.
Come to me.

Kōrero mai.
Talk to me.

Whakarongo mai.
Listen to me.

Titiro mai!
Look here!

Kua hoki mai ia.
She has returned (here).

Kua tae mai ngā manuhiri.
The guests have arrived (here).

However, it is often used in te reo Māori where a meaning of "towards me" is not obvious.

For example:

Kua noho mai ia ki Tāmaki Makaurau mō ngā tau e rima.
She has been living in Auckland for five years.

The mai does not mean “towards me”; it shows that her residence began in the past and continues up to the present moment. In this context, mai means "from then up to this point in time":

Kua mōhio mai au ki tēnei tikanga mō te tekau tau.
I have known this custom for ten years.

See also:

• Direction markers with adverbs - tonu mai, kā atu, rawa mai...

▶

I'm coming. You're going.

haere mai, haere atu

▶

Give me those!

hōmai and hōatu

Tatari mai i konā, e te tau.
Wait there, my darling.

I tau mai te waka ki uta, me te karanga atu a te iwi e tatari ana.
The canoe came to shore while the people who were waiting called out.

Kei te whai mai koe i ahau.
Do you follow me?

Kei te menemene mai te pēpi.
The baby is smiling at me.

Ka haere mai rātou a te Mane.
They will come on Monday.

Auē! E haere tonu mai ana te pūru!
Oh! The bull is still coming!

Ka hoki mai au ākuanei.
I'll come back soon.

Tukuna mai mā te tuhinga kūkara.
Send it to me via google doc.

Ki te tae mai a Haki mā, ka tere oti ngā mahi.
If Haki and the others arrive, then the work will be.

Whiua mai te pōro.
Throw me the ball.

I tae mai ngā manuhuri.
The visitors arrived.

Tangohia mai ngā tūru.
Take the chairs down.

I haere mai au ki te inu,.
I came here to drink.

Ka haere mai ia āpōpō.
She is coming here tomorrow.

Pānuihia mai te whārangi tuarua.
Read me the second page.

Mauria mai ngā toka ki tēnei taha o te whare.
Bring the stones to this side of the house.

Kahore ia i whakawātea mai mua o te haka.
He didn't move away from the front of the haka.

Kia ora mai tātou katoa.
Greetings to all of us.

Ka hoki mai au i te rua haora.
I'll be back in two hours.

Kua hoki mai ia i te pahi.
She has come back from the bus.

Āe, haere mai ki te kai.
Yes, come to eat.

Kei te ata ka eke mai ka patu.
In the morning they will arrive and attack.

I hoki mai koe inanahi?
Did you come bach yesterday?

Karanga mai, karanga mai, karanga mai!
Call me! Call me! Call me!

Tokohia kē mai nei ngā tāngata e tae mai ana mō te kai!
What a lot of people are arriving for the food!

Haere mai ki konei!
Come here! (to this place/to where i am)

Kei te hiahia au kia whakarongo mai koe!
I want you to listen!

Haere mai ki te kaukau.
Come for a bath.

Kia tae mai pea ia.
I hope she comes.

Tēnā haria mai he āporo māku, e kō?
Can you bring me an apple please, dear?

Ā, kua hoki mai taku mokopuna.
Ah, my grandchild has returned.

Ka rīngi mai ia a te awatea.
She'll ring in the middle of the day.

Tēnā koutou kua hui mai nei i tēnei rā!
Greetings to you who are gathered here on this day!

Kua tae mai a Aroha.
Aroha has arrived.

Kō ēnei waka e rua, i ū mai ki Hokianga.
These two canoes landed at Hokianga.

Me kōmuhu mai koe ki a au.
You should whisper it to me.

Mihi mai ki a mātou.
Greet us.