mātau

See also: matau, matáu, mataʻu, and mata'u

Maori

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *ma(a)taqu, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqu (compare with Malay tahu (“to know”)), from Proto-Austronesian *Caqu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmaː.taʉ̯/

Noun

mātau

1. knowledge, understanding

   Ma te mātau ka ora.

   Through knowledge comes well being.

Verb

mātau

1. to know, to understand

   Kāore i pērā rawa te tokomaha o te hunga kaiako he mātau ki te reo Māori, he mātau hoki ki te mahi whakaako.

   There weren't as many teachers who knew the Māori language and also knew how to teach.

References

• “mātau” in John C. Moorfield, Te Aka: Maori–English, English–Maori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, 2011, →ISBN.

Rarotongan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *ma(a)taqu, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqu, from Proto-Austronesian *Caqu.

Verb

mātau

1. to know

Tuamotuan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *ma(a)taqu, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqu, from Proto-Austronesian *Caqu.

Verb

mātau

1. to know