(NZ) A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.
(NZ) A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.
Tangi means: A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
tangi means: A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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Tangi means: A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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(NZ) A Maori funeral.
A Maori funeral or mourning ceremony in New Zealand. A tangihanga is far more than a funeral — it's a multi-day communal gathering at a marae where the deceased lies in state and is honoured through speeches, waiata (song), and the presence of family and community. It's central to Maori culture and tikanga (custom), and respected across New Zealand society. Often shortened to 'tangi' in everyday conversation.
(NZ) A custom, value or principle, especially of the Maori people.
(NZ) Funeral rites; a funeral ceremony, a tangihanga.
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(NZ) Crying, wailing, especially when seeing someone after a long absence.
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