First Lessons in Maori
§ 4
§ 4.
The nouns have no Inflections, nor any distinctions of Gender.
Obs. The interrogative pronoun aha, what, is treated as a common noun.
The Number of a common noun is denoted generally by the number of the definitive in connexion with it. (§§ 17, 18.) The following words have one vowel lengthened in the plural, thus:
Singular. | Plural. |
---|---|
Mătua, parent. | Mātua, parents. |
Tŭpuna, ancestor. | Tūpuna, ancestors. |
Tăngata, man. | Tāngata, men. |
Wăhine, woman. | Wāhine, women. |
Tuăhine, sister (of a man). | Tuāhine, sisters. |
Tuăkana, elder brother. | Tuākana, elder brothers. |
Těina, younger brother. | Tēina, younger brothers. |
Tamăhine, daughter. | Tamāhine, daughters. |
The word tamaiti, child, is used in the singular only, tamariki being always used for the plural.