Haka
/ˈhɑːkə/noun
A Māori ceremonial performance combining chanting, vigorous movement, posture, facial expressions, and sometimes weapon display.
Did you know?Although widely associated with warriors, haka can also express welcome, grief, celebration, love, protest, and remembrance; its meaning depends on the composition and context.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*saka
“To perform a dance or ritual movement; the reconstructed ancestor of Māori haka and related Polynesian forms.”
Pre-European Māori
Māori
haka
“A group performance involving chant, rhythmic movement, stamping, gestures, and facial expression.”
18th–19th Century
Māori
haka
“A ceremonial performance used in contexts including warfare, welcome, mourning, celebration, and tribal diplomacy.”
19th Century
English
haka
“An English borrowing used by European observers for Māori dances and ceremonial performances.”
Modern English
English
haka
“A Māori performance tradition, internationally recognized through Māori cultural groups and New Zealand rugby.”