te

Everyday

1. In tonic sol-fa singing (do, re, mi, fa, so, la, te), «te» is the seventh note of the major scale, just below the top do; it is spelt «ti» in the USA. tree →
2. (French) «te» is a French pronoun meaning «you» or «yourself» to one friend or child, as in «Je t'aime» (I love you, where «te» becomes t') and «Comment tu t'appelles?»; it sounds like «tuh» to an English ear and is not an English word. tree →
3. (Māori, New Zealand) «te» means «the» (for one thing), as in «Te Reo Māori» (the Māori language) and «Aotearoa», «Te Papa» (the museum). tree →
4. (Mandarin) «tè» means special, in «tèbié» (especially). tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons pupils sing the scale «do re mi fa so la te do», as in the song «Do-Re-Mi» from «The Sound of Music» («Tea, a drink with jam and bread» is a pun on «te»). In New Zealand schools, Māori words with «te» are everyday: Te Reo, Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island). In French lessons «te» is in phrases like «Je te remercie» (I thank you). Phrases: do re mi fa so la te do; Te Reo Māori.

Examples

• Sing up the scale: do, re, mi, fa, so, la, te, do. tree →
• «Te» is the note just before the top «do». tree →
• In America they spell it «ti». tree →
• (Māori) Te Reo Māori is taught in New Zealand schools. tree →
• (Māori) Te Papa is the national museum in Wellington. tree →
• (French) Je te vois. — I see you. tree →
• (French) Comment tu t'appelles? — What is your name? tree →
• In the song, «tea» is a pun on the note «te». tree →

Note

Not an everyday English word on its own. In sol-fa, «te» is UK and Commonwealth spelling, «ti» is American. In French «te» changes to «t'» before a vowel (je t'aime). In Māori «te» is for one thing, «ngā» for more than one. Pronounced «tee» for the music note, «tuh» in French, «teh» in Māori.

In Jewish tradition

In music lessons pupils sing the scale «do re mi fa so la te do», as in the song «Do-Re-Mi» from «The Sound of Music» («Tea, a drink with jam and bread» is a pun on «te»). In New Zealand schools, Māori words with «te» are everyday: Te Reo, Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island). In French lessons «te» is in phrases like «Je te remercie» (I thank you). Phrases: do re mi fa so la te do; Te Reo Māori.

Note

Not an everyday English word on its own. In sol-fa, «te» is UK and Commonwealth spelling, «ti» is American. In French «te» changes to «t'» before a vowel (je t'aime). In Māori «te» is for one thing, «ngā» for more than one. Pronounced «tee» for the music note, «tuh» in French, «teh» in Māori.