Māori · C1 · Unit 21
Wit and wordplay
Te koi o te hinengaro
By the end you can
- Use wordplay and banter naturally
- Make a joke that fits the moment
- Understand jokes that depend on culture
Words and phrases
| Māori | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| koi te hinengaro | quick-witted (literally 'sharp mind') | He koi te hinengaro o tōku kuia. |
| whakahī | tease, mock (playfully) | Ka whakahī ngā rōpū i a rātou anō. |
| kupu tākaro | wordplay, a pun | He kupu tākaro tāna. |
| kupu tikanga rua | a word with two meanings | He kupu tikanga rua te 'pēke'. |
| whakautu kakama | a quick reply, a comeback | He whakautu kakama tāna! |
| kāore he whakautu | no comeback, lost for words | Kāore he whakautu a te rōpū kē. |
| whakataetae pātai | a quiz | Ka haere mātou ki te whakataetae pātai i te pāparakāuta. |
| pāparakāuta | a pub | Ka hui mātou ki te pāparakāuta ia Rāpare. |
| i hinga | lost, was beaten | I hinga mātou i te tekau piro. |
| he ngahau noa | just for fun, only joking | Kaua e riri, he ngahau noa. |
| tauutuutu | take turns, reciprocate (as speakers do on the marae) | Ka tauutuutu ngā kaikōrero. |
| katakata ana | laughing away | Katakata ana te katoa i te pāparakāuta. |
Then talk it through
Friendly banter between teams at a pub quiz. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.