kia

IPA/ˌkiː ˈɔː.rə/
KK[kˈiɚ]IPA/ˌkiː ˈɔːr.ə/

kia — exclamation

1. a word from the Māori language that New Zealanders say when they meet someone, e

1.exclamationB1
Definition

a word from the Māori language that New Zealanders say when they meet someone, express thanks, or part ways — a short, friendly greeting for everyday use.

Example

The Māori elder smiled and said "kia ora" to the arriving schoolchildren.

"kia ora" as a greeting — the full phrase is common in NZ English

The tour guide waved and said "kia ora" as the visitors walked out the door.

Common collocations
  • kia ora
  • say kia ora
  • offer a kia ora
  • with a kia ora
Synonyms
  • kia ora

    the full Māori phrase; 'kia' is sometimes used as a shortened form in casual speech

Grammar Patterns

kia (ora) — used as a standalone greeting, thank-you, or farewell

Usage Note

Often extended to 'kia ora' (the full Māori phrase). In New Zealand English it is used in informal spoken situations as a friendly greeting, equivalent to 'hello', 'thanks', or 'goodbye' depending on context. NOTE: This exclamation (homograph 1) is etymologically unrelated to the military abbreviation KIA (homograph 2), which stands for 'killed in action'.

Common Mistakes

I said kia to my friend in Taiwan.
I said kia ora to my friend in New Zealand.
'kia' is used as a Māori greeting primarily in New Zealand, not in other English-speaking countries.

kia — abbreviation

Word family

  • kia ora
    exclamationB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: abbreviation/1

KIA is the official military abbreviation for 'killed in action,' used in reports, records, and news headlines. Its full form 'killed in action' is more common in formal letters to families or in historical writing. 'Fallen' is a gentler, more respectful term used in memorials, speeches, and poetry — it carries emotional weight and implies honour, whereas KIA is purely factual. 'Died in combat' is a broader phrase that covers any death during fighting, including non-battle causes. For example, a news headline might read 'Three soldiers KIA in border clash,' while a memorial speech would say 'We remember our fallen comrades.'

KIA ↗killed in actionfallen ↗died in combat

Etymology

MāoriEnglish

The exclamation 'kia' comes from the Māori phrase 'kia ora,' where 'kia' is a particle indicating purpose or desire and 'ora' means 'life, health, well-being.' The literal sense is roughly 'may you be well.' The abbreviation KIA was first used in British military records during the First World War as a shorthand for 'killed in action,' and remains in use today across English-speaking armed forces.