In Māori the official name for France is Wiwi

Map found on redditThe map above shows the names for various countries in Māori, including France which is Wiwi (my 5 year old loves this).

More about their names for countries:

Māori names for countries often originate from transliterations of their English or European names, descriptions of the place’s characteristics, or historical interactions with Māori.

These names are typically adapted to fit the phonetic structure of the Māori language.

Origins of Māori Country Names

1. Transliterations of European Names
   Many country names are simply adapted into Māori pronunciation, making them easier to say in the Māori language.
   • Example: Wīwī for France (from “Wiwi”—a shortened form of Wiwi Parani, itself a transliteration of “Oui, oui, Paris”). (So not what my 5 year old thinks)
2. Descriptive Names
   Some names describe key aspects of the country, such as its location, people, or historical relationship with Māori.
   • Example: Ingarangi for England, from “Hingirangi,” referring to the English people.
3. Missionary & Colonial Influence
   During early European contact, Māori often learned about other countries from British missionaries and settlers, who influenced how Māori named foreign lands.
4. Names from Other Polynesian Languages
   Some names are derived from related Polynesian languages, particularly if Māori already had some knowledge of the place through ancestral voyaging.

Māori Names for Countries (Europe & the Americas)

Māori names for countries are often phonetic adaptations or descriptive terms. Below are some common ones:

Europe

English Name	Māori Name	Origin
England	Ingarangi	Adapted from “England”
France	Wīwī / Parani	From “Oui, oui” (French for “yes, yes”) / Transliteration of “France”
Germany	Tiamana	From “Deutschland” (via English “Germany”)
Spain	Paniora	From “Español” (Spanish for “Spanish”)
Italy	Itāria	Phonetic adaptation of “Italia”
Netherlands	Hōrana	From “Holland”
Sweden	Huitene	From “Sweden”
Scotland	Kotirana	From “Scotland”
Ireland	Airangi	From “Ireland”
Russia	Rūhia	From “Russia”
Greece	Kirihi	From “Greece”

The Americas

English Name	Māori Name	Origin
United States	Amerika / Hononga o Amerika	From “America” / “United States of America”
Canada	Kānata	From “Canada”
Mexico	Mehiko	From “México”
Brazil	Parīhi	From “Brasil”
Argentina	Atinitīna	Adaptation of “Argentina”
Chile	Hiri	From “Chile”
Peru	Peru	Same as English/Spanish

Māori Language Compared to English

Māori (Te Reo Māori) and English come from completely different language families:

Feature	Māori	English
Language Family	Polynesian (Austronesian)	Germanic (Indo-European)
Phonetics	Mostly vowels, few consonants	Many consonants, complex clusters
Word Order	VSO (Verb-Subject-Object)	SVO (Subject-Verb-Object)
Articles	Te (the) / Ngā (plural “the”)	“The” (definite), “A/An” (indefinite)
Possession	Tō/Tā (dependent on possession type)	Uses “‘s” or “of”
Pronunciation	Syllabic, no consonant clusters	Allows complex sounds

Key Differences

1. Fewer Consonants: Māori has only 10 consonants (h, k, m, n, p, r, t, w, and the digraphs wh and ng), while English has 24.
2. Simple Syllables: Māori words usually follow a CV (consonant-vowel) pattern, making them easy to pronounce.
3. No Gendered Words: Unlike many European languages, Māori does not have gendered nouns.
4. Possessive System: Māori has different words for “inherent possession” (tō) vs. “alienable possession” (tā), unlike English, which just uses “my” or “of”.

Do you know of any other interesting Māori place name?