馃嚦馃嚳 Maori phrases

How to Say "I'm sorry" in Maori

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Aroha mai
"I'm sorry" in Maori 路 say it like ah-roh-hah my

The most natural way to say "I'm sorry" in Maori is Aroha mai. 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

Aroha mai e hoa
A more casual way to say sorry to a friend
Ka pouri au
A more formal expression of regret

When to use it

Use 'Aroha mai' when you want to apologize for a mistake or an inconvenience. It is suitable in both casual and formal situations. You can use it when you bump into someone accidentally or when you need to express regret for something you said.

Say it out loud, get corrected

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

Examples in Maori

MaoriEnglish
Aroha mai, k膩ore au i te m艒hio.I'm sorry, I didn't know.
Aroha mai e hoa, k膩ore au i te hiahia ki te raru.I'm sorry my friend, I didn't mean to cause trouble.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 'Aroha mai' with 'Aroha', which means love, not an apology.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Aroha mai, 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

When should I use 'Aroha mai'?

You should use it whenever you want to apologize for something.

Learn Maori by speaking it

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