Mixing up 'a'a and 'ā'ere - help with meaning?

yeah i do this too! the apostrophes are in different spots which throws me off when reading. i've been trying to remember that 'a'a sounds more like "ah-ah" for asking "what" and 'aere has that rolling sound. do you find it easier when you see them in full phrases like "'a'a tēia" vs "'aere mai"?

I get what you mean, Jordan. Hearing the difference in phrases helps a lot. Like, in the lesson, 'Ea'a tēia kara?' means "What colour is this?" and 'Aere mai' means "welcome" or "come". Saying those out loud slowly has helped me a bit to not mix them up. What phrase do you find easiest to remember for each one?

i think 'aere mai ki roto for "please come inside" really sticks for me because it's got that welcoming feel and the 'aere is right at the start. wait, is there a pattern with where the apostrophes go in cook islands māori? like does it relate to how the syllables break up?

I haven't noticed a clear pattern yet, but I do remember that 'Aere atu ki va'o' means "please go outside," and the apostrophes can change with the phrase. It’s tricky! I’m slowly trying to connect the sounds to the apostrophes, but it’s still a work in progress. Have you tried saying '‘Akarongo mai, ‘inē?' for "please listen"? That one helps me hear the difference between 'aere' and other words.