kōwhai

See also: kowhai

Maori

Etymology

Cognate with Hawaiian 'ōhai (“Sesbania tomentosa”), Tahitian ofai (“Sesbania grandiflora”) and South Marquesan kohai (“Caesalpinia pulcherrima”) from Proto-Polynesian *kōfai.[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /kɔːɸai/

Noun

kōwhai

  1. Any of several small woody legume trees in the genus Sophora native to New Zealand that have yellow flowers. The national flower of New Zealand.
  2. yellow

See also

See also
Colors in Maori · ngā tae (layout · text)
     mā, tea      kiwikiwi      pango
             whero, kura              karaka; parauri              kōwhai, renga
                          kākāriki              kārikiuri
                          kikorangi              kahurangi
             tūāuri              waiporoporo              māwhero

References
  1. “Kōfai”, in Te Māra Reo: The Language Garden‎, Benton Family Trust, 2022
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