Mick_Endzy

And if anyone reading this wants to get a better understanding of pronouncing Māori words, it’s got some similarity with Japanese. Here’s a tip:

a = ah
e = eh
i = ee
o = aw (as in hawk, but not USA’s ‘hock’)
u = oo (as in ew but less of the ‘e’)
wh = f
The r consonant rolls a bit, so it’s like a very soft d sound.

And when vowels are close together they tend to kind of mesh into one, like ‘ai’ into ‘eye.’

So the word whanau (family) is pronounced fah-know, and kaimoana (seafood) is k’eye’-maw-ah-nah. And the Māori word itself is maah-aw-ree, but we’d let you off if you said mow-ree (as in mowing the lawn) because you’re at least making an attempt.

foocking

Think you mean fahckin’ there, ya dumb dog

If anyone’s got the time to listen to a podcast about it, there’s one that came out recently called ‘Let’s Start a Coup.’

Admittedly I haven’t heard it myself, but one of the hosts is Justin Boland(?) who also hosts Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know, and been a guest on Behind the Bastards, so I imagine it’ll be quite good, and I’ll be listening to it soon.

Edit: I’ve finished listening to it, and it is indeed very good. Really funny and informative.