A Maori-language term used in New Zealand for a burial ground or cemetery, specifically one associated with Maori cultural practice.
A Maori-language term used in New Zealand for a burial ground or cemetery, specifically one associated with Maori cultural practice. An urupa is a sacred site deserving respect, and disturbing one is considered highly offensive in Maori custom. The word is commonly encountered in New Zealand English in discussions of land rights, heritage, and cultural protocol. Pronounced approximately 'oo-roo-pah.'
The iwi requested that the proposed road be rerouted to avoid the urupa at the edge of the bush.
Urupa means: A Maori-language term used in New Zealand for a burial ground or cemetery, specifically one associated with Maori cultural practice. An urupa is a sacred site deserving respect, and disturbing one is. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described.
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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A historical New Zealand term for a double-barrelled shotgun or firearm, used particularly during the 19th century. The word entered New Zealand English from Māori, and the weapon itself was significant in conflicts of the colonial era, including the New Zealand Wars. While the term is primarily historical, it occasionally appears in New Zealand literature, historical discussion, and cultural contexts where the colonial period is being examined or depicted.
(New Zealand) An ancestor, especially a grandparent, in Maori culture.
(Now, _, chiefly, _, dialectal, Scotland) A tomb; sepulchre.
A New Zealand English term, borrowed from Māori, referring to the luderick fish (Girella tricuspidata), a dark-scaled species found in coastal waters around New Zealand and Australia. The word is used naturally in New Zealand fishing and coastal communities, reflecting the broader integration of Māori vocabulary into New Zealand English. Outside of NZ, the fish is more commonly called luderick or black bream. The term has a regional, technical flavor and is primarily used among anglers and marine biologists.
Urupa means: A Maori-language term used in New Zealand for a burial ground or cemetery, specifically one associated with Maori cultural practice. An urupa is a sacred site deserving respect, and disturbing one is. It is mainly New Zealand English and may not be understood outside that context. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described.
urupa means: A Maori-language term used in New Zealand for a burial ground or cemetery, specifically one associated with Maori cultural practice. An urupa is a sacred site deserving respect,. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. 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.
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(NZ) In Māori culture, a burial ground.
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