馃嚦馃嚳 Maori phrases

How to Say "Friend" in Maori

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
hoa
"Friend" in Maori 路 say it like ho-ah

The most natural way to say "Friend" in Maori is hoa. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

t奴akana
used for an older friend or sibling
teina
used for a younger friend or sibling

When to use it

You can use 'hoa' when referring to a friend in a casual or friendly context. It is suitable for both spoken and written communication. Use it when introducing someone as your friend or when talking about friendship.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "Friend" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Maori

MaoriEnglish
Ko taku hoa a Hemi.Hemi is my friend.
He pai ki ahau te noho ki taku hoa.I enjoy spending time with my friend.
Common mistake
Some learners confuse 'hoa' with 't奴akana' and 'teina', which refer to older and younger siblings respectively.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear hoa, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Maori with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the plural form of 'hoa'?

The plural form is 'ng膩 hoa', meaning 'friends'.

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