Mauri
/ˈmaʊ.ri/noun
In Māori thought, the life force or vital essence believed to animate a person, place, or thing.
Did you know?Mauri is not simply a soul or spirit; it is understood as a vital principle that can be protected, weakened, restored, or transferred through relationships and ritual.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*mauli
“Life force, vital principle, or source of vitality”
Proto-Eastern Polynesian
Proto-Eastern Polynesian
*mauli
“Vital essence or life principle”
Early Māori
Māori
mauri
“Life force or essential vitality; the change from l to r reflects regular sound development in Māori”
19th Century
English
mauri
“A Māori spiritual or life principle, recorded in English-language writing about Māori culture”
Modern English
English
mauri
“The vital essence or life force of a person, place, or thing”