te reo

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori te reo (“Māori”, literally “the language”).

Proper noun

te reo

  1. (New Zealand) The Māori language.
    Currently, many Kiwis are learning te reo.

Maori

FWOTD – 29 October 2012

Etymology

Clipping of te reo Māori; equivalent to te (definite article) +‎ reo (“language, speech”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [tɛ ˈɾɛɔ]

Proper noun

te reo

  1. The Māori language.
    • 2006, Joanne Barker, Sovereignty Matters‎[1], page 208:
      In 1979 a gathering of elders at the Waananga kaumatua affirmed te reo Maori “Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Maori” the language is the life principle of Maori mana.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see te,‎ reo.

Descendants

  • → English: te reo
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