Maori

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Etymology

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From Proto-Polynesian *fenua (cognate with Hawaiian henua and Tahitian fenua), from Proto-Central Pacific *vanua, from Proto-Oceanic *panua, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *banua (compare with Malay benua).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɸe.nu.a/, [fɛ.nʉ.ɐ]

Noun

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whenua

  1. land
  2. country
  3. state
  4. ground
  5. placenta, afterbirth

Derived terms

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See also

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  • motu (an island)

References

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  • whenua” in John C. Moorfield, Te Aka: Maori–English, English–Maori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, 2011, →ISBN.
  • Tregear, Edward (1891) Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary[1], Wellington, New Zealand: Lyon and Blair, pages 620-1