Māori Grammar

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 tere mai!
Hurry up!

Kia tū māia!
Let's be brave!

Kia kaha ki te mahi!
Work hard!

Kia karakia tātou
Let us do an incantation.

Kia tika āu raina.
Make your lines straight.

Kia hāneanea te noho.
Have a comfortable stay.

Kia mauritau!
Be relaxed!

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

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

Kia taka pea koe i runga i te hōiho!
I hope you fall off your horse.

Kia mā te wāhi e mahi ai kōrua.
Your work area should be clean.

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

Kia hāparangi te waha!
Shout it!

Kia manawanui!
Be careful

Kia tere te tīmata.
Start quickly.

Kia pai te rā.
Have a good day.

Kia au tō moe.
Have a sound sleep.

Kia tere ake tō oma.
Run faster.

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

Kia hora te marino.
May peace be widespread.

Kia manawanui tāua.
Let us be patient.