General
kai
What does kai mean?
The everyday Kiwi word for food, used interchangeably with 'food' in casual conversation.
"Come round for some kai after the game."
Origin
From Māori 'kai' (food); fully absorbed into general New Zealand English.
Frequently asked questions
What does kai mean?
Kai is the Māori and everyday New Zealand word for food. It's used casually the same way you'd say 'food' or 'a feed'.
How do you pronounce kai?
It rhymes with 'sky' or 'eye', said as KY.
Is kai a Māori word?
Yes, it comes from te reo Māori and has been fully absorbed into general New Zealand English.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
