There are a very large number of prefixes in Maori. A few only are generally recognised as inflexional. Kai prefixed to a transitive verb forms a noun connoting the agent, thus, arahi (to guide) prefixed with Kai – Kaiarahi (a guide or person who guides).

The genus of the language admits of the free combination of words in phrases which approximate to compound words, and it is difficult to formulate a rule for determining whether such a combination should be regarded as a single word or not, and whether or not the use of hyphens is desirable.