What does the maori word mouldy mean?

There isn't a direct Māori translation for "mouldy". Māori language focuses on describing the state of something rather than using a single word for "mouldy".

Here are some ways to describe something mouldy in Māori:

* "Kē" - This means "rotten" or "decayed".

* "Pōuri" - This word signifies "dark" or "gloomy", which can be used to describe the appearance of mould.

* "Whakapapa" - This literally means "ancestry", but can be used to describe the process of decay or decomposition, suggesting that something is starting to rot.

* "Iti" - This means "small" and could be used to describe the small black spots of mould.

You could also use descriptive phrases like:

* "Kua whakamatehia e te hūpuku" - This literally means "has been killed by the fungus".

* "Kua hipokina ki te hūpuku" - This translates to "has been covered in fungus".

The best way to describe something as "mouldy" in Māori would be to use a combination of these words and phrases depending on the context and the extent of the mould.