rāua ko
A Named Companion
Rāua ko Hemi means Hemi and one other person: two altogether.
How It Works
A grouping phrase can contain a non-singular pronoun followed by ko and a name. In rāua ko Hemi, Hemi belongs to the pair counted by rāua; context identifies the other member. In māua ko Ani, the pair is the speaker and Ani, excluding the addressee. The pronoun retains its ordinary person, number and inclusion distinctions. The verb has no matching person or number ending.
Both members can be named: Rangi rāua ko Mere means “Rangi and Mere.” The group can also appear within a possessor phrase. Compare rāua alone, which leaves both identities to context, with a grouping phrase that identifies one or both.
Examples (3)
- Kei te tunu kai māua ko Ani.
Ani and I are cooking.
Māua counts the speaker and Ani as two and excludes the addressee.
- I hoki rāua ko Hemi ki te kāinga.
Hemi and the other person went home.
Hemi is one member of the third-person pair.
- Ko tēnei te whare o Rangi rāua ko Mere.
This is Rangi and Mere's house.
The possessor phrase names both members.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Introduce ko and a name as identifying a member within the pronoun's total group. Extend this to naming both members and placing the group within a possessor phrase.
Related Patterns
- māua / tāuaTwo People with or Without You
Explains addressee inclusion in a first-person pair.
Level 1 - mātou / tātouA Group with or Without You
Extends inclusion distinctions to larger groups.
Level 1 - me + nounTogether with
Provides accompaniment or coordination, with usage differences for personal names.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
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