Māori Grammar

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How is...? - E pēwhea ana, he pēwhea?

The word pēhea or pēwhea means "how". It is heard most commonly in the question "how are you?"

Kei te pēhea koe?
E pēhea ana koe?
How are you?

Either sentence structure can be used - but the reply should use the same structure as the question. For example, if asked e pēhea ana koe? a person should not respond with kei te pai ahau, but with e pai ana ahau so that the answer matches the question,

See also:

Answering a question using the same sentence structure -

He pēwhea tō hanawiti?
How's your sandwich?

E pēwhea ana koe?
How are you?

He pēwhea te tawhiti atu o Te Wharekauri i te tuawhenua?
How far away are the Chatham Islands from the mainland?

He pēwhea te teitei o Aoraki?
How high is Aoraki?

He pēwhea tō kuia?
How is your nanna?

He pēwhea...?
How is...?

Ka pēwhea...?
What about...?

I pēwhea te tākaro whutupaoro a Rangi?
How was Rangi's rugby game?

E pēwhea ana te Kapa Tpa?
How are the Warriors going?

Ka pēwhea ngā kaimahi?
What will happen to the workers?

He pēwhea tō motokā?
How is your car?

I pēwhea te whutupōro?
How did the rugby go?

Ka pēwhea te pūha nei?
How is the pūha?

E pēwhea ana āu tamariki?
How are your kids?

I pēwhea tā kōrua hararei?
How was your (you two) holiday?

Ka pēwhea ngā punua ngeru nei?
How are the kittens?