Māori Grammar
| Previous | Back | Next |
There are four directional markers in te reo Māori:
mai - towards me
atu - away from me
ake - up
iho - down
Atu is used to describe action away from the speaker.
Haere atu!
Go away.
Me kōrero atu koe.
You should speak to someone else.
You speak over there (away from me).
Literally: You should speak away.
Kei te haere atu a Hone.
John is going away.
Atu is also used as an intensifier, especially when used with rawa:
He tino pai rawa atu tōu reo.
Your voice is very good indeed.
Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Ahuriri?
When did you leave for Napier?E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.Tokomaha i haere atu ki tōna tangihanga.
Many went to her funeral.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.Te taunga rawatanga atu o Paki i te waka, ka tīmata ia ki te kaukau.
As soon as Paki jumped out of the boat, he began swimming.Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Ka whakamau atu au i te kope mā.
I'll put a fresh nappy on.Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Tae atu a Ponga ki tana taha.
Ponga reached her side.Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!Kōrero atu ki a Aroha.
Speak to Aroha.Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.Te rongonga atu o Tame i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Tame heard what his sister said...Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Tawa ki a Amaru.
Tawa passes the ball to Amaru.Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Kuhu atu te kī ki raro i te takapau.
Hide the key under the mat.Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.