Polynesian Tattoo Terminology
A quick-reference cheat sheet of the vocabulary you'll hear when planning a Polynesian tattoo — from tools and traditions to the most common motifs. For deeper definitions with cross-links, see the glossary.
| Term | Short definition |
|---|---|
| Tatau | The Samoan word for tattoo — the origin of the English word 'tattoo'. |
| Pe'a | Male full-body Samoan tatau from waist to knee, earned over multiple painful sessions. |
| Malu | Women's Samoan tattoo, thigh to knee, marking protection and service. |
| Au | Bone-toothed comb used to hand-tap Samoan tatau. |
| Tā moko | Māori tattoo tradition, historically chiseled to leave grooved skin. |
| Moko kauae | Chin moko worn by Māori women, encoding whakapapa. |
| Uhi | Bone chisel used to carve tā moko into the skin. |
| Whakapapa | Genealogy; the lineage a Māori moko encodes. |
| Kākau | Hawaiian tattoo tradition, applied with a moli (bone-toothed tool). |
| Moli | Hawaiian tattooing tool: a bone comb bound to a wooden handle. |
| Patutiki | Marquesan figurative tattoo art — dense geometric portraiture across the body. |
| Enata | Stick-figure ancestor motif; rows tell a family story. |
| Niho mano | Shark-teeth motif — protection, strength, ferocity. |
| Honu | Sea turtle — family, longevity, safe navigation. |
| Koru | Spiral of a silver-fern frond — new life, growth. |
| Tiki | Ancestral protector figure — carries mana and guardianship. |
| Mana | Spiritual power or authority carried by a person, object or place. |
| Tapu | Sacred prohibition; something set apart and protected. |
| Veiqia | Fijian women's tattoo tradition, applied at puberty. |
| Qia gusu | Fijian mouth/lip tattoos worn with veiqia. |
| Manulua | Two-birds motif — union, meeting, dual leadership. |
| Marquesan cross | Balanced four-arm motif — harmony of the four elements. |
| Rā | Sun motif — eternity, leadership, brilliance. |
| Tara | Spearhead motif — the warrior spirit. |
| Tai / Ngaru | Wave motifs — travel, journey, connection. |
Cross-references: Glossary · Motif library · Cultures
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