Whānau
/ˈfaː.naʉ/noun
In Māori and English, an extended family or kinship group, often including people connected by close social bonds.
Did you know?In Māori thought, whānau traditionally extends beyond the nuclear family to encompass wider kin and trusted community relationships, emphasizing collective identity and responsibility.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*fānau
“To give birth; offspring or descendants”
Eastern Polynesian
Proto-Eastern Polynesian
*hānau
“To give birth; be born; offspring”
Pre-European Māori
Māori
whānau
“To give birth; be born; a birth or family group”
19th Century
Māori
whānau
“Family or extended kin group”
20th Century
English
whānau
“A Māori extended family or wider kinship group”
Modern English
English
whānau
“An extended family or close-knit support community”