tinana

Tinana is a Māori word meaning the body or physical form of a person or living being. It refers to the corporeal aspect as distinct from non-physical elements such as the mind or spirit.

In te reo Māori and in cultural contexts, tinana is a central concept in discussions of health and wellbeing. It is one of the four dimensions of health in the holistic model Te Whare Tapa Whā, alongside hinengaro (mind), wairua (spirit), and whānau (family).

Tinana is used in everyday language to describe physical state, anatomy, or capability, as well as in ceremonial and artistic contexts where movement or form is relevant. The term appears in educational materials, clinical settings, and cultural discourse to emphasize the physical body while acknowledging the broader interconnections of a person’s wellbeing.

Spelling and orthography: in common usage, tinana appears without diacritics in English-language texts, though formal te reo Māori writing may indicate long vowels with macrons in related words. The essential meaning remains the same across contexts: the physical body as a tangible, functional aspect of a person.