🇳🇿 Maori phrases

How to Say "Please speak slowly" in Maori

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Tēnā kōrero āta
"Please speak slowly" in Maori · say it like teh-nah koh-reh-roh ah-tah

The most natural way to say "Please speak slowly" in Maori is Tēnā kōrero āta. 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

Tēnā kōrero i te āta
A slightly more formal way to ask someone to speak slowly
Kōrero āta mai
A casual way to ask someone to speak slowly

When to use it

Use this phrase when you need someone to slow down their speech for better understanding. It is polite and shows that you are engaged in the conversation. This can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Say it out loud, get corrected

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

Examples in Maori

MaoriEnglish
Tēnā kōrero āta, kāore au e mārama.Please speak slowly, I do not understand.
Common mistake
Learners often forget to use 'tēnā' at the beginning, which makes the phrase sound less polite.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Tēnā kōrero āta, 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

Is it okay to ask someone to speak slowly?

Yes, it is polite and shows that you want to understand better.

Learn Maori by speaking it

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