Tane
/ˈtaːnɛɪ/noun
Tāne is a Māori atua, or deity, associated especially with forests, birds, and the creation of humankind.
Did you know?In Māori cosmology, Tāne is credited with forcing apart the earth mother Papatūānuku and sky father Ranginui, creating the world of light.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*tāne
“Male person or man; the reconstructed ancestral form behind Māori tāne.”
Early Polynesian
Polynesian
tāne
“Man or male; related forms survive across several Polynesian languages.”
Māori
Māori
Tāne
“A male ancestor and, in religious tradition, the atua associated with forests, birds, and human creation.”
19th Century
English
Tane
“An English rendering of the Māori deity’s name, appearing in writings about Māori religion and mythology.”
Modern English
English
Tāne
“A proper name for the Māori forest deity, also used in names such as Tāne Mahuta.”