# Pronunciation of "Maori" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 15, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488 "2004-06-15T15:59:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488/21 "2004-06-15T23:26:28Z")
> [@SparrowHawk](#): > > I think you mean pupule (with the final vowel pronounced “eh” not “ee”). You are correct about pronouncing each vowel and how they do glide together, sounding like a diphthong to English speakers’ ears - unless there is an 'okina - that thing like an upside down apostrophe. So Hawai’i wouldn’t be pronounced with equal accent on both the “i” syllables, just with emphasis on the last one - Ha/wa/ee ’ EE. Also, my understanding is that [prounouncing W as V](http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/o-pronunciation.html) is permissible in some cases (including the word Hawai’i) and not others. You like go Ewa? Like I said"I get all pupule". II’s been over 60 years since I was in the islands–but,for the correction, Mahalo[sp?[ And may the humuhumunukunukuapuaa pleasure your eye. OL’EZ Them kanaka words b’long kanaka man alleesame ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488/22 "2004-06-16T00:42:13Z")
OK, in New Zealand, there seem to be two major ways to pronounce “Maori” - the “correct” way and the “common” way. My explanation of the pronunciation assumes a New Zealand accent (probably a false assumption, but it shouldn’t lead you too far astray). The correct pronunciation uses an **a** as in “f **a** ther”, **o** as in “f **o** rt”, and **i** as in “ch **ee** se”. Even the most formal speakers pronounce the **ao** as a diphthong - just practice saying each vowel separately and eventually let them slur into one vowel. Another important point that nobody has mentioned yet is the pronunciation of the **r**. This should sound like a cross between an English **r** and a **d** (maybe even with a bit of an **l** thrown in there). It’s quite hard to explain, but from what I’ve heard a lot of other languages have a similar **r** sound (including Japanese). I have heard a lot of formal situations where “Maori” is pronounced similar to “mouldy” (said quite a bit faster than usual). However, I wouldn’t recommend walking up to a Maori person and saying “are you mouldy?” The common way to pronounce “Maori” is “MOW-ree” (rhyming with cow-knee). In this case, you don’t need to worry about the **r** - just pronounce it like any other **r**. Now you’re probably wondering when to use the “correct” pronunciation and when to use the “common” pronunciation. The answer is this: it probably doesn’t matter. There are some chauvanistic Maori who will not be happy if you pronounce it the “common” way. Similarly, there are some chauvanistic Pakeha (non-Maori) who will look at you funny if you pronounce it the “correct” way. I would not recommend mixing with either group anyway. ---
**Author:** ![jastu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jastu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jastu)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488/23 "2004-06-16T00:54:46Z")
Every few years the PC pronunciation of Maori seems to change. At the moment, MAH REE is used by the media, a few years ago it was MOLE REE (rhyme with mouldy) before that MOW REE. I have no idea why the PC pronunciation keeps changing. ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488/24 "2004-06-16T00:57:09Z")
Thank you, **Mbossa**. ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488/25 "2004-06-16T00:58:36Z")
… and **jastu**! ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488/26 "2004-06-16T15:35:00Z")
I hope, now that actual New Zealanders have weighed in against him, my friend is big enough to admit he was wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-maori/250488.md?page=1)