(NZ) Crying, wailing, especially when seeing someone after a long absence.
(NZ) Crying, wailing, especially when seeing someone after a long absence.
(NZ) A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.
Tangi means: A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up. For most families this word will pass by without incident; it is more a vocabulary curiosity than a parenting concern.
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A Maori funeral or mourning ceremony in New Zealand. A tangihanga is far more than a funeral — it's a multi-day communal gathering at a marae where the deceased lies in state and is honoured through speeches, waiata (song), and the presence of family and community. It's central to Maori culture and tikanga (custom), and respected across New Zealand society. Often shortened to 'tangi' in everyday conversation.
(NZ) A Maori funeral.
(NZ) A custom, value or principle, especially of the Maori people.
tangi means: A Maori dirge, or song for the dead.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
(NZ) Funeral rites; a funeral ceremony, a tangihanga.