whenua

Maori

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): /ɸe.nu.a/, [fɛ.nʉ.ɐ]

Noun

whenua

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

Derived terms

• (land): tāngata whenua
• (ground): hua whenua
• Whenuatū

See also

• motu (“an island”)

References

• “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