(New Zealand) A spirit associated with a person or thing, according to Māori beliefs.
(New Zealand) A spirit associated with a person or thing, according to Māori beliefs.
"wairua" means: A spirit associated with a person or thing, according to Māori beliefs.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"wairua" means: A spirit associated with a person or thing, according to Māori beliefs.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (New Zealand) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
"wairua" means: A spirit associated with a person or thing, according to Māori beliefs.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
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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(New Zealand) An evil spirit.
(New Zealand) A ghost; an evil spirit.
(New Zealand) A Māori folk song.
A Maori word used in New Zealand English for a ghost or evil spirit. In Maori tradition, kehua are the spirits of the dead that may linger in the world of the living. The word is used in New Zealand English both in Maori cultural contexts and in general New Zealand conversation to refer to a ghost.
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(NZ) A spirit or monster in Maori mythology, especially one that dwells in the water.