whenua

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Maori

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *fenua (cognate with Hawaiian henua and Tahitian fenua), from Proto-Central Pacific *vanua, from Proto-Oceanic *panua, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *banua (compare with Malay benua).

Pronunciation

Noun

whenua

  1. land
  2. country
  3. ground
  4. placenta, afterbirth

Derived terms

See also

  • motu (an island)

References

  • whenua” in John C. Moorfield, Te Aka: Maori–English, English–Maori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, 2011, →ISBN.
  • Tregear, Edward (1891) Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary, Wellington, New Zealand: Lyon and Blair, pages 620-1