Māori Grammar
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Mai is one of the direction particles in te reo Māori, along with atu (away from), iho (downwards) and ake (upwards).
It is used in sentences that clearly mean "towards me":
Haere mai.
Come to me.
Kōrero mai.
Talk to me.
Whakarongo mai.
Listen to me.
Titiro mai!
Look here!
Kua hoki mai ia.
She has returned (here).
Kua tae mai ngā manuhiri.
The guests have arrived (here).
However, it is often used in te reo Māori where a meaning of "towards me" is not obvious.
For example:
Kua noho mai ia ki Tāmaki Makaurau mō ngā tau e rima.
She has been living in Auckland for five years.
The mai does not mean “towards me”; it shows that her residence began in the past and continues up to the present moment. In this context, mai means "from then up to this point in time":
Kua mōhio mai au ki tēnei tikanga mō te tekau tau.
I have known this custom for ten years.
Kahore ia i whakawātea mai mua o te haka.
He didn't move away from the front of the haka.Ā, kua hoki mai taku mokopuna.
Ah, my grandchild has returned.Auē! E haere tonu mai ana te pūru!
Oh! The bull is still coming!Kō ēnei waka e rua, i ū mai ki Hokianga.
These two canoes landed at Hokianga.I hoki mai koe inanahi?
Did you come bach yesterday?Ka tae mai rāua ki Ōtautahi.
They arrived here in Christchurch.Mauria mai ngā toka ki tēnei taha o te whare.
Bring the stones to this side of the house.Kei te menemene mai te pēpi.
The baby is smiling at me.Āe, haere mai ki te kai.
Yes, come to eat.I tau mai te waka ki uta, me te karanga atu a te iwi e tatari ana.
The canoe came to shore while the people who were waiting called out.Me kōmuhu mai koe ki a au.
You should whisper it to me.I rere mai te kaipuke.
The ship sailed here.Kua hoki mai ia i te pahi.
She has come back from the bus.Tēnā haria mai he āporo māku, e kō?
Can you bring me an apple please, dear?Ka haere mai ia āpōpō.
She is coming here tomorrow.Haere mai, tamariki mā!
Come here children!E oma atu ana ngā tamariki.
The children are running away.Tukuna mai mā te tuhinga kūkara.
Send it to me via google doc.E noho mai ana tāku tamāhine i Ōtautahi.
My daughter is living in Christchurch.Tatari mai i konā, e te tau.
Wait there, my darling.Tokohia kē mai nei ngā tāngata e tae mai ana mō te kai!
What a lot of people are arriving for the food!Kei te whai mai koe i ahau.
Do you follow me?Kua tae mai a Rangi.
Rangi has arrived.Oma atu, tamariki mā!
Run away children!I haere mai au ki te inu,.
I came here to drink.Kua tae mai rātou i Rotorua.
They have arrived here from Rototua.Ka hoki mai au i te rua haora.
I'll be back in two hours.Pānuihia mai te whārangi tuarua.
Read me the second page.Tangohia mai ngā tūru.
Take the chairs down.Titiro mai, whakarongo mai, kōrero mai!
Look, listen and speak!Haere mai ki konei!
Come here! (to this place/to where i am)Tae tonu mai te ope ki konei, ka eke ki te marae.
As soon as the party got here, they went to the marae.Tatari mai i konā, e te tau.
Wait there, my darling.Me kōrero mai anō koe.
You'd better speak to me again.Kia tae mai pea ia.
I hope she comes.Ka hoki mai au āpōpō.
I will return tomorrow.Kia ora mai tātou katoa.
Greetings to all of us.Whiua mai te pōro.
Throw me the ball.Haere mai ki te kaukau.
Come for a bath.Ka hoki mai au ākuanei.
I'll come back soon.Kei te ata ka eke mai ka patu.
In the morning they will arrive and attack.I haere mai au mā runga pahi.
I came by bus.Ka rīngi mai ia a te awatea.
She'll ring in the middle of the day.Ka tū mai Aorangi, te tipuna maunga o Waitaha.
There stands Aorangi, the ancestral mountain of the Waikato people.Kua hoki mai ia.
She has returned.Kei te hiahia au kia whakarongo mai koe!
I want you to listen!I tae mai ngā manuhuri.
The visitors arrived.Ki te tae mai a Haki mā, ka tere oti ngā mahi.
If Haki and the others arrive, then the work will be.Tēnā koutou kua hui mai nei i tēnei rā!
Greetings to you who are gathered here on this day!Karanga mai, karanga mai, karanga mai!
Call me! Call me! Call me!