Te Reo Māori Banter: Spice Up Your Card Games with Phrases and Vocabulary ♣️♥️♠️♦️

Te Reo Māori Banter: Spice Up Your Card Games with Phrases and Vocabulary ♣️♥️♠️♦️

I don't know about your whānau, but we are the competitive type, and that means aaaall the card banter comes out when we are together playing our favourite card games (usually Hearts or Up and Down the River). Cheeky kōrero, innocent insults, heated debates, and outbursts of rage or celebration — it's a loud affair when the cards come out 😂 

In the spirit of Mahuru Māori, we have put together a few handy words and phrases you can use in te reo Māori while playing your favourite card games. Karawhiua mai te tākarokaro! (Bring on the fun!)

RERENGA KŌRERO

PHRASES

Pīrangi tākaro kāri?

Wanna play cards?

Ko au te toa!

I'm the winner!

Kua hinga koe!

You lose!

Tētahi tāhae!

Cheater!

E kore a muri e hokia!

Table card! (what’s done is done)

Kei a koe

Your turn

Māu e tohatoha

Your deal

Māku e tohatoha

My deal

He kēmu tere, pai te rere

Fast game is a good game

Anō?

Play again?

Kaiamuamu!

Sore loser!

Kei a wai?

Who's next?

Kāore i te whakaaetia!

You can't do that.

Ka hinga koe i a au!

I'm gonna waste you!

Kia tere!

Hurry up!

Tahi rā koe!

What a cheek!

Me whai whare

You need to follow suit

Ka aroha hoki

Aw poor you (sarcastic)

Kāti te titiro whakakeko!

Stop peeking!

Me mate ururoa!

Don't give up!

He ika tūpuhi

Scaredy-cat, whimp

He roro hipi!

Sheep's brain!

 

KUPU

WORDS

Tānapu

Trump (card)

Whare

Suit

Hai

Ace

Hāte

Hearts

Pēti

Spades

Taimana

Diamonds

Karapū

Clubs

Kēhua

Joker

Putu kāri

Deck of cards

Kēmu

Game

 

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