kura
kura Lexical Profile
• noun
New Zealand A school, particularly a Māori-language immersion school (Kura Kaupapa Māori) where teaching is conducted entirely in the Māori language and based on Māori culture and values.
"The children attend a local kura, where they are educated in te reo Māori to help revitalize the language."
A traditional Japanese storehouse or warehouse, typically constructed with timber and thick earthen walls to protect valuable goods from fire and theft.
"Many wealthy merchants during the Edo period built fireproof kura to safely store their rice, sake, and family heirlooms."
Word Nuance & Usage
In English, "kura" represents two entirely distinct cultural loanwords: in New Zealand English, it refers to a school (especially a Māori immersion school), whereas in historical or architectural contexts regarding Japan, it refers to a traditional earthen storehouse.
• Rhymes for kura
Word Origin & Etymology
A convergence of two distinct loanwords: from the Māori word 'kura' (initially meaning 'red', 'precious', and later 'school'), and from the Japanese word 'kura' (倉 or 蔵), meaning 'storehouse' or 'warehouse'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.