Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kia ora” come from?

kia ora (English) comes from Maori kia ora, from Maori ora, from Proto-Polynesian ola, from Proto-Oceanic wola, from Proto-Oceanic *wada, from Proto-Austronesian *wada.

kia ora (English): Used as a greeting; Expressing good will or...

Definitions

  1. Used as a greeting; Expressing good will or...

Ancestry of “kia ora”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Maorikia oraA greeting said when meeting someone or...
2Maoriorato exist; to be alive, well, safe, cured,...
3Proto-Polynesianolato be alive, exist
4Proto-Oceanicwola—
5Proto-Oceanic*wada—
6Proto-Austronesian*wada—
Every word from Proto-Austronesian *wada →