You know we love a good cuppa ☕🫖... but why not use that moment to practise your reo too? Asking someone if they’d like a cup of tea (or coffee) is a super practical way to use te reo Māori in your everyday life.
This guide takes you step by step through how to ask one person for their order, and how they might respond. Swap out “tī” for “kawhe” (coffee) if that's their preferred choice of hot beverage 😉
Would you like a tea?
He tī māu?
Would you like a tea?
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Āna, he kaputī māku.
I’d love a cup of tea.
Kei te pai ahau.
I’m all good, thanks.
What type?
Ko tēhea momo?
What type?
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He ________ māku.
I’d love a ________ tea.
Types:
tī pango/kamupūtu — black/gumboot tea
tī otaota — herbal tea
tī kore kāwhine — decaf tea
tī matomato — green tea
How do you take it?
He pēhea māu? He miraka, he huka rānei?
How do you take it? Milk, sugar?
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Kia pango, kore huka.
Black, no sugar.
He miraka, he huka hoki.
With milk and sugar.
How much milk?
Me pēhea te nui [o te miraka]?
How much [milk]?
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Kia iti noa iho.
Just a little.
Kia āhua nui.
A fair bit.
Kia nui.
Lots.
How many spoons of sugar?
E hia ngā koko [o te huka]?
How many spoons [of sugar]?
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E rua ngā koko huka.
Two spoons of sugar, please.
Kotahi me te haurua.
One and a half.
Serving & Thanks
Anei.
Here you go.
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Kia ora.
Thanks.
Ka nui te mihi.
Thanks so much.
Next time you’re making a brew for whānau, friends, or workmates, give these phrases a go. It’s a small but meaningful way to make te reo Māori part of your everyday routine, one cuppa at a time.
Want more tea fun?
If you enjoyed this, check out our Cuppa Tī Personality Test: Which Classic Kiwi Brew Are You? ☕️ — a humorous and light-hearted look at what your go-to brew says about you 👀
👉🏽 Read the Cuppa Tī Personality Test blog here
