First Lessons in Maori

§ 33

§ 33.

When using an ordinal as an adjective in immediate connexion with a noun, prefix tua- * to the simple numeral from one to nine, thus:

  • Te tangata tuatahi, the first man.

Above nine, without tua-, thus:
  • Te tekau o nga manu, the tenth of the birds, or the tenth bird.

  • Te rua tekau ma toru o nga whare, the twenty-third of the houses, or the twenty-third house.