whakapapa

W4H4A1K5A1P3A1P3A1
/ˈfɑːkəˌpɑːpə/[fakaˈpapa]

noun

Genealogy, as a fundamental principle of Māori culture that is critical in establishing one's identity.

OriginMāori whakapapa ← Proto-Polynesian *papa ← Proto-Oceanic *baban →
UncommonScrabble 23
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Meanings

nounwhakapapa (usually uncountable, plural whakapapas)

plural whakapapas

  1. New ZealanduncountableusuallyGenealogy, as a fundamental principle of Māori culture that is critical in establishing one's identity.

    What are you crying for? asks the Kati Kahukunu (he's probably my 23rd cousin but we haven't swapped whakapapa yet).

    1983, Keri Hulme, The Bone People, Penguin, published 1986, page 98

Origin

  1. Proto-Polynesian*faka
  2. Māoriwhaka-
  3. Proto-Malayo-Polynesian*papan
  4. Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian*papan
  5. Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian*papan
  6. Proto-Oceanic*baban
  7. Proto-Polynesian*papa
  8. Māoripapa
  9. Māoriwhakapapa
  10. Englishwhakapapa

Borrowed from Māori whakapapa.

More words from Māori

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

whakapapa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/whakapapa

MLA

“whakapapa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/whakapapa. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “whakapapa,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/whakapapa.

Source: whakapapa on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.