The Cook Islands Maori alphabet has 13 letters: a, e, ng, i, k, m, n, o, p, r, t, u, and v. The eight consonants: ng, k, m, n, p, r, t, v) are pronounced as in English, although non-Maorie speakers often have difficulty with the ng (pronounced as in "sing") especially when it occurs at the beginning of a word. In addition to the letters above, there are two symbols that help indicate the sound of a letter. The glottal stop, which is an inverted apostrophe and a macon, which is an overhead horizontal line. The glottal stop, typically replaces the "h" of other Polynesian dialects. In speech, the glottal stop is a brief, guttural sound preceding the vowel. The five vowels are either short or long. Long vowels are indicated by a macron.

Short vowels Long vowels

"a" as in "above", "ā" as in "father"

"e" as in "met", "ē" as in "men"

"i" as in "eat" "ī" as in "tea"

"o" as in "bought", "ō" as in "torn"

"u" as in .cute., "ū" as in .moon".

In Maori speech the context is an important means of overcoming ambiguity.

When Maori words are written within an English text it is very important to include the glottal stops and macrons to avoid ambiguity and to aid correct pronunciation. The inclusion of glottal stops and macrons enables us to distinguish between the meaning of words, like: ū a (rain) "ua (egg, seed), ū"a (female) and ūā (thigh).

Learn Maori:

Kia Orana - Greetings

(key ah or ah nah)

Kia Manuia - Good Luck

(key ah ma noo e ah)

Ka kite - See ya

(ca(r) key teh)

Meitaki Maata - Thank you very much

(may tah key ma ah tah)

Aere ra - Goodbye

(ah ea(r) rear rah)

"ae - Yes

(ah ea(r))

Kare - No

(ca(r) reh)

Tane - Man

(tah neh)

Vaine Woman

(va e neh)

Manea - Pretty/Handsome

(ma neh ah)

"ura - Dance

(oo rah)

Mataora - Happy

(ma ta or rah)

Kai – Food

(ka-e)

Teia ra - Today

(Tay ah rah)

Apopo – Tomorrow

(Ah paw paw)

Ra - Sun

(rah)

Marama – Moon

(mah rah mah)

Moana – Ocean

(mo(re) ah nah)

Maunga - Mountain

(Mah oo ngah)