Māori Grammar

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Mild imperatives (You should be...) - kia

Kia has a variety of uses, one of which is as a mild imperative most commonly seen in the expressions kia ora and kia kaha:

Kia ora!
May you be well!

Kia kaha!
May you be strong!

This expresses a desired state or a wish for a certain outcome.

Often, a command is given by adding a passive ending to a transitive verb:

Horioa!
Wash!

Tapahia!
Chop!

However, statives cannot take a passive ending, and so a command cannot be given in this way. Instead, a command with a stative (including ora and kaha) uses kia:

Kia tūpato!
Be careful!

Kia mākona!
Be satisfied!

See also:

Statives - mate, ngaro, mau...

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Hello

kia ora

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Hello friend!

kia ora e hoa

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Let there be one cup of sugar (kia)

kia

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I am careful about eating sugar lest I die of diabetes

tūpato as a stative

Kia haumaru te haere.
Have a safe trip.

Kia hāneanea te noho.
Have a comfortable stay.

Kia au tō moe.
Have a sound sleep.

Kia mauritau!
Be relaxed!

Kia tū māia!
Let's be brave!

Kia tika āu raina.
Make your lines straight.

Kia kaha ki te mahi!
Work hard!

Kia hāparangi te waha!
Shout it!

Kia hora te marino.
May peace be widespread.

Kia piki te ora ki a koe.
May you be in perfect health.

Kia pai tētahi ki tētahi!
Be good to each other!

Kia tere ake tō oma.
Run faster.

Kia pai te rā.
Have a good day.

Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana.
May the sea be like greenstone.

Kia manawanui tāua.
Let us be patient.

Kia tere mai!
Hurry up!

Kia mahara ki te hē o Rona!
Let us remember the sin of Rona!

Kia tere te tīmata.
Start quickly.

Kia karakia tātou
Let us do an incantation.