kohu

Kohu is a Māori word meaning fog, mist, or haze. It is used to describe atmospheric conditions when visibility is reduced due to moisture in the air. In te reo Māori, kohu appears in weather descriptions, nature writing, and everyday speech, and it can also convey a figurative sense of obscurity or uncertainty in metaphorical language.

The term reflects the close relationship between language and the natural environment in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its usage is common in Māori-language contexts and in bilingual resources that discuss weather, landscape, and culture. In such contexts, kohu helps convey mood and setting, from the quiet of a fog-bound morning to the mystery of fog rolling over hills.

There is no specialized technical meaning beyond its weather sense; the word is mainly used as a common noun. Spelling and pronunciation follow te reo Māori conventions.

See also: te reo Māori, weather in Māori culture, Māori vocabulary.