This simple iPhone hack will make learning te reo easier than ever!

Publish Date
Tuesday, 14 September 2021, 2:00PM

It's Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and we've come bearing the greatest gifts of all! Knowledge!

Introducing this legendary iPhone hack, which will make learning te reo words extremely simple, and encourage you to use it more in everyday life. (insert pakipaki emoji here).

Like most great hacks this was brought to our attention on TikTok, thanks to Josh Kirkley

All the hack involves you swapping out words within your phone and allowing the phone to autocorrect to the appropriate te reo term. Very simple! 

@joshkirkley

Kia ora e te iti! This has helped me so much and I really encourage you all to learn new kupu this week! #nz #aotearoa #maori #tereo #māorilanguage #māori #newzealand

♬ original sound - Josh Kirkley

Here are the steps on how to swap out your words. 

  1. Head into your Settings.
  2. Click General.
  3. Click on Keyboard.
  4. Click Text Replacement.
  5. Click on the + button (top right).
  6. In the 'Phrase' line, add the te reo word or phrase of your choice.
  7. In the Shortcut line, add the English word.

So now, whenever you type the English word, it'll autocorrect to the te reo version of the word! Legendary, right. 

We've taken the liberty of curating a list of a few simple words/phrases to give you a head start!

Shortcut Phrase 
Food Kai
Good Morning Mōrena
Meeting Hui
Chat Kōrero
Work Mahi
Computer  Rorohiko
Happy Harikoa
Sad  Pouri
Angry Hōha
Coffee Kawhe
Tea
Milk Miraka
Sugar Huka
Breakfast Parakuihi
Lunch/Dinner/Meal Tina
Walk Hīkoi
Run Oma
Excercise Hei mahi
Friends Takatāpui

And as Josh pointed out, if you're talking to somebody who doesn't quite understand what you mean, what a great time to explain! It really is a win-win.

So why not give it a crack for the week (or forever), and add to the list as you go! You never know when it could come up in a pub quiz. Your takatāpuhi will love you for it. 

Want more? Here's a crack up yarn from The Sol3 Mio boys – rockin your taringa every weekday morning from 6AM. They're always up to something! 

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