Māori Grammar

PreviousBack Next
Te Reo Māori Level 1
Commands without e or the passive - Homai! Whakarongo!

If a verb has one or two syllables, when giving a command, the verb is preceeded by e:

E tū!
Stand up!

E noho!
Sit down.

If the verb has three or more syllables, we do not need the e:

Whakarongo!
Listen!

Hōmai te tote.
Pass me the salt.

Waiho te wini.
Leave the window alone.

Homai tēnā.
Give that (thing) here.

Waiho te .
Leave it for later, it'll sink in soon.

Waiho ō kamuputu paru ki waho.
Leave your dirty gumboots outside.

Kua ngaro tāku pene. He nui āu. Tēnā, hōmai tētahi.
I've lost my pen. You've got lots. Give me one please.

Waiho te rākau nei.
Leave the gearstick alone.

E runga i te tūru!
Stand on the chair!

Hoatu te parāoa.
Pass the bread (away).

Homai ngā tōkena.
Pass me the socks.

Homai ōna kākahu.
Give me his clothes.

Hōmai ēnā ōku.
Pass mne those shoes of mine.

Homai hingareti.
Pass me your singlet.

Hōmai tēnā ōku.
Pass me that shoe of mine.

Homai ngā ūkui.
Pass me the wipes.

Waiho te raumamao.
Leave the remote.

Homai tētehi naihi.
Pass me a knife.

Waiho te raumamao.
Leave the remote

Hoatu te paraoa ki a ia.
Pass the bread to her.

Hōmai te rākau ki a au.
Give the stick to me.

Waiata ki ngā manuhiri.
Sing to the guests.

Homai te parāoa.
Pass me the bread.

Hoatu ngā pune.
Pass the spoons (away).

Hoatu ēnā taputapu ki a ia.
Give those tools to him.

Homai koa te pata.
Pass me the butter please.

Titiro ki te maunga!
Look at the mountain!

Homai tōna tīhāte.
Give me his t-shirt.

Homai te pata.
Pass me the butter.

Homai ngā kākahu.
Pass me the clothes.

Titiro ki te waka.
Look at the car.

Waiho ō ki te kūaha.
Leave your shoes by the door.

Hoatu te pukapuka ki a ia.
Pass the book to him.

Homai te pene.
Pass me the pen.

Homai te paukena nui rawa atu!
Give me the biggest pumpkin!

Homai ōu koti.
Give me your coats.

Titiro ki te paratuhituhi!
Look at the blackboard!

Homai te pēpi
Pass me the baby.

Homai te ūkui.
Pass me the cloth.

Haere mai ki tipuna whare!
Welcome to your ancestral home!

Homai ki ahau.
Give it to me.

Tēnā homai te huka.
Can you pass me the sugar.

Titiro ki te mainga!
Look at the mountain!

Homai tōna pātara.
Pass me his bottle.

Noho iho!
Sit down!

Waiho tēnā, koa.
Leave that alone, please.

Homai ngā tarau.
Pass me the trousers.

E oma ki a Rangi!
Run to Rangi!

Haere atu i konei!
Go away from here!

Homai ngā pereti.
Pass me the plates.

Waiho teina.
Leave your younger sibling

Moe mai!
Sleep!

Waiho te mea .
Leave that thing alone.

Noho mai i te kūaha!
Sit down here by the door!

Kuhu mai ki roto!
Come inside!

Homai tāora.
Give me your towel.

Whakatika i tōu rūma.
Tidy your room.

Hoatu te hopi ki a ia.
Give him the soap.

Waiho ngā .
Leave the keys.

E rua āu āporo. Homai tētahi!
You've got two apples. Give me one!

Homai ki au.
Give it to me.

Tatari i te kete!
Wait at the gate!

Kōrero atu!
Speak out!

Hoatu he pereti ki a ia.
Give him a plate.

Hoatu te rākau ki a Mere.
Give the stick to Mere.

Homai ki a mātou tōu waka.
Give us your canoe.

Waiho te hopi.
Leave the soap.

Homai ngā paoka me ngā pune.
Pass me the forks and spoons.

Oma atu!
Run away!

Homai te tāora.
Pass me the towel.

Waiho ngā tūru.
Leave the chairs.

Homai ō ringaringa.
Give me your hands.

Tirohia te maunga!
Look at the mountain!

Homai te hopi.
Pass me the soap.

Homai ngā āporo.
Pass me the apples.

Homai te tote me te pepa.
Pass the salt and pepper.

Homai ō koti.
Give me your coats.

He rahi rawa tēnei wiri, hōmai he mea iti iho.
This drill is too big, pass me a smaller one.

Pātai atu ki hoa.
Ask your friend.

Hōmai tēnā pene whero.
Give me that red pen (by you).

Waiho te tāora.
Leave the towel.

Homai te pata.
Pass me the butter.

homai te pēpi!
pass the baby!

Hoatu tēnei ki a ia.
Give this to him.

Hōmai aku pene!
Give me my pencils!

Homai te tote.
Pass the salt.

Waiho mātou, te hunga taiohi, ngā mea e kawe.
Leave it to us, the youth, to carry the things.

Homai ki a mātou!
Give it to us!

Waiata!
Sing!

Homai ringa.
Pass me your hand.

Homai koa tēnā.
Please pass that.

ake!
Stand up!

Hōmai ngā tote.
Pass me the [bags of] salt.

Homai te paoka.
Pass the fork.