It‘s te reo Māori - of course there is moa than one way to say:
‘Happy Birthday!’
‘Happy Birthday!’
But don’t worry e te whānau, we’ve got you covered! By the end of this post, you’ll know:
- The meaning behind the different ways to say ‘Happy Birthday’ in Māori,
- The lyrics for both versions of the song in te Reo Māori with chords for the guitar and ukulele,
- A list of other useful birthday-themed kupu and phrases to use with friends and whānau!
Nō reira (therefore) let’s get straight into it so that you can start adding a little more Māori culture to your birthday celebrations!
Born Day vs Happy Turning of the Year
The two most common ways that people say Happy Birthday in te reo Māori are:
‘Rā Whānau’ &‘Hari Huritau’
and even though they have the same overall meaning, the literal translations are slightly different.
Rā Whānau:
Rā is our Māori kupu (word) for SUN or DAY.
Whānau is one word we use to say BORN.
So Rā Whānau is kind of like saying ‘Born Day.’
Hari Huritau:
Hari means HAPPY in te reo Māori,
Huri can mean TURN and
Tau is one way to say YEAR,
So Hari Huritau is like saying ‘Happy Turning of the Year!’
While these are the two most common ways to say ‘Happy Birthday’ in Māori, here are some other expressions you can use to share your well wishes:
• Huritau Oaoa – Happy Birthday
• Rā Tupu – Growth Day
• Rā Huritau – Year-Turning day
• Mauri Ora – Wishing you good health
• Kia Ora – Hello / Be well
The Happy Birthday Waiata in Māori!
Everyone knows the classic Birthday song:
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to Name!
Happy Birthday to you!
So much so that I bet you even sung it in your head as you read that, which makes it easy enough to start switching the lyrics to te reo Māori at your birthday celebrations since even the tamariki already know the tune!
Here are the lyrics to BOTH versions of the waiata so you can sing the one whose literal translation resonated with you most:
Rā Whānau ki a koe,
Rā Whānau ki a koe,
Rā Whānau ki a Name,
Rā Whānau ki a koe!
Hari Huritau ki a koe,
Hari Huritau ki a koe,
Hari Huritau ki a Name,
Hari Huritau ki a koe!
Then simply add your Hip Hip’s, your Hoorays and Bob Marley’s your uncle – you‘ve got yourself a Happy Birthday waiata in te reo Māori!
AND – if your musically inclined and want to strum along as you sing, there are only 3 chords to this simple waiata, C, G and F!
See below chords for how to play Hari Huritau on the guitar:
and here are your chords for Rā Whānau on the ukulele:
‘Moa’ Birthday Kupu/Phrases in te reo Māori!
Now that you know how to say and sing “Happy Birthday,” let’s take it up a notch! Add even ‘moa’ te reo Māori to your celebrations with these additional birthday-themed kupu and phrases. Whether you’re at a party or celebrating your own special day, these expressions should help you bring te reo to te pāti:
Keke – Cake
Kānara – Candle
Koha – Gift
Pāti – Party
Manuhiri – Guests
Awhi – Hug
Poihau – Balloon
Kanikani – Dance- Perehana – Present
Tākaro – Play
Kāri Huritau – Birthday Card
Waiata – Song/Sing
Hākari – Feast
Phrases to say TO the Birthday star:
• “Kia pai tō rā whānau!” – Have a good birthday!
• “E hia ō tau?” – How old are you?
• “Ngā mihi nui mō tō rā whānau!” – Best wishes for your birthday!
• “Kia koa koe i tō rā!” – May you be joyful on your day!
Phrases to say when its YOUR Birthday:
• “Haere mai ki tō taku pāti!” – Welcome to my party!
• “Ngā mihi mō te koha.” – Thank you for the present.
• “Kei te tino harikoa au!” – I am very happy!
• “E __ taku tau!” – I am __ years old!
Well – There you have it e te whānau!
You are ready to add a special Māori touch to your celebrations! Whether you’re strumming along with the chords or simply wishing friends and family well, I hope this post helps you celebrate in a meaningful and culturally rich way!
Incorporating te Reo Māori into these memorable moments not only honors our heritage but also helps pave the way to a bilingual future for our tamariki. So, next time you’re celebrating a birthday, let these Māori greetings and songs make your festivities even more memorable.
Happy singing and best wishes for your next birthday celebration!
and if you’re keen to incorporate te Reo Māori into your everyday life as well as these special moments, be sure to grab your FREE printable Karakia to sing at mealtimes!
I just read your piece on how to sing “Happy Birthday” in Te Reo Māori, and I have to say, it’s a fantastic resource! I will certainly use this in my upcoming travels. I love how you made the cultural aspect so accessible, blending language learning with celebration. The pronunciation tips and extra vocabulary really add value, making it easy for anyone to embrace Māori culture during special moments. It’s like you’ve created a perfect bridge between tradition and fun! Keep up the awesome work—I’m definitely bookmarking this one.
Cheers,
Gabriel John
Kia ora Gabriel!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so happy to hear that you found the post helpful and that you’ll be using it on your travels! I hope the tips and vocabulary enhance your cultural experience 🙂
Ngā mihi nui for your support and for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment.
Safe travels and enjoy the singing!
Ngā mihi!
Kiri
This article is so heartwarming and informative! I love how it brings a deeper cultural appreciation to something as universal as birthday celebrations. It’s fantastic to see the different ways to say “Happy Birthday” and how the Māori language adds a special touch to these occasions.
I’ve found that incorporating a bit of a different culture or language into personal traditions can really enrich the experience. Last year, I tried adding a few phrases from my heritage into a family celebration, and it made the event feel even more meaningful and connected. Have you ever tried integrating other cultural elements into your own celebrations? How did it go?
Thank you for comment! I love that you’re adding phrases from your own heritage into celebrations!
We also incorporate Karakia (a Maori blessing or prayer) into our events. There are some for blessing the food when we gather for a feast, and some specific for certain celebrations like weddings, graduations etc.
If you’re interested in reading more about Karakia we have another post with 5 easy ones to learn here: https://moathanwords.com/5-eas…