katoa

Katoa is a common word in the Māori language of Aotearoa New Zealand that expresses the idea of entirety or universality, usually translated as "all," "every," or "whole." It is used both as a standalone term and as part of phrases to indicate inclusiveness or totality.

In grammar, katoa typically follows a noun or a pronoun to modify it, for example ngā mea katoa ("all things") or tātou katoa ("all of us"). It frequently appears in greetings and formal addresses; a widely used greeting is kia ora koutou katoa, meaning "hello to you all" or "hello everyone." Pronunciation follows Māori vowel sounds and is commonly rendered in English as kah-TOH-ah, with each vowel sounded distinctly.

Katoa has parallels across Polynesian languages, reflecting shared linguistic roots within the Eastern Polynesian subgroup, and is used in both everyday speech and formal contexts. It can convey emphasis when combined with other particles or pronouns and plays a role in inclusive language to acknowledge groups or concepts in their entirety. As a basic but versatile lexical item, katoa is integral to expressions of community, completeness, and collective reference in Māori communication.