Tena koe is a formal Maori greeting used when addressing a single person — think of it as the te reo equivalent of 'greetings to you.' In New Zealand it appears in schools, workplaces, and official settings as part of the country's biculturalism. It's respectful and warm, marking the speaker as someone who honours Maori language and custom.
She opened the presentation with tena koe and the whole room felt a little more connected.
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(New Zealand) A greeting (to a single person).
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.