A Short Introduction to the Hawaiian Language

  1. Spelling and Pronunciation

A. Hawaiian is an oral language, but for our convenience, we will use an alphabet of 12 letters to spell words.

A E I O U H K L M N P W

B. Pronunciation of the consonants is similar to English, except for the “W,” which is pronounced in between a w and v sound.

C. Vowels are the most important part of the language. Write in the best way for you personally to remember the vowel pronunciations below:

A =

E =

I =

O =

U =

D. The ‘okina is written as an apostrophe (‘) and is pronounced as a glottal stop. This means that there is a little break in your voice when you pronounce a word with the ‘okina.

E. The kahako is a line written over a vowel that elongates it. Give the vowel double value in word with the kahako.

F. Hawaiian is a syllabic language in which the syllables consist of a vowel standing alone or paired with a consonant. Every letter in a word is pronounced.

II. Vocabulary

A. Nouns

1. Everyday stuff:

‘ohana-familyhoaaloha-friend

kanaka-humankane-man

wahine-womanhaumana-student

kumu-teacherkula-school

papa-classpuke-book

aloha-loveinoa-name

hale-buildinghaleku’ai-store

ka’a-carkala-money

kama’a-shoepapale-hat

holoholona-animali’a-fish

manu-birdpopoki-cat

‘ilio-dognoho-chair

pakaukau-tablemea’ai-food

mea inu-drinkwai-water

lei-garlandhula-dance

pa’ina-partypapa he’enalu -surfboard

2. Nature terms:

ua ‘akika-acid rainku’ono-bay

kahakai-beachpanini-cactus

awawa huhoho -canyonana-cave

pali-cliffwao one-desert

pu’e one-dunehonua-earth

pua-flowernahele-forest

pu’u-hillmokupuni-island

wao nahele-jungleloko-lake

‘aina-landkula mau’u-meadow

mahina-moonkuahiwi-mountain

moana-oceanmeakanu-plant

nu’u laulaha-plateauanuenue-rainbow

muliwai-riverpohaku-rock

one-sandkai-sea

pupu-seashellhoku-star

la-sunkumula’au-tree

awawa-valleywailele-waterfall

nalu-waveulu la’au-woods

B. Pronouns

wau/au-Ikakou-we (all of us)

‘oe-you (singular)‘oukou-you all

‘o ia-he/shelakou-they/them

C. Adjectives

‘ula’ula-red‘alani-orange

melemele-yellow‘oma’oma’o-green

uliuli-blueponi-purple

‘ele’ele-blackke’oke’o-white

hinahina-grey‘akala-pink

maika’I-good, well‘ino-bad

maluhiluhi-tiredma’i-sick

nui-bigli’ili’i-little

kahiko-oldhou-new

hau’oli-happykaumaha-sad

nani-prettypupuka-ugly

anuanu-coldwela-hot

ikaika-strongnawaliwali-weak

pololi-hungryma’ona-full of food

makewai-thirstykena-not thirsty

pa’akiki-difficultma’alahi-easy

‘olu’olu-kind, comfortable‘ono-delicious

moloa-lazykapulu-messy

‘omalumalu-cloudymakani-windy

D. Verbs

hele mai-comehele-go

hana-workpa’ani-play

‘ai-eatinu-drink

hiamoe-sleepala-wake up

ha’awi-giveku’ai mai-buy

wehe-openpani-close

heluhelu-readkakau-write

‘olelo-speakkama’ilio-converse

‘ike-seenana-watch, look

ho’olohe-listen‘aka’aka-laugh

alaka’i-leadmaka’ika’i-sightsee

‘au’au-bathe, swimholoi-wash

holo-runlele-jump

he’enalu-surfhoni-kiss, smell

III.Phrases

A. Greetings

1. General form: “Aloha(time)(# of people),e (addressee)

kakou – all of us

kaua – both of us

kakahiaka – morning (6am-10am)

awakea – noontime (10am-2pm)

‘auinala – afternoon (2pm-6pm)

ahiahi – evening (6pm-10pm)

2. Just to say “hello,” only “aloha” is needed. However, to spice it up a bit, try adding time or people references. One, two, or all three of the above things in parentheses can be added in the greeting.

3. Pe hea ‘oe ? – How are you?

*this sentence form is elaborated on in the grammar section*

4. The Hawaiian custom is such that people always exchange “Hello, how are you”s at the beginning of each meeting.

B. Other common phrases

‘ae-yes

‘a’ole-no

mahalo -thanks

‘a’ole pilikia-no trouble/you’re welcome

a hui hou-see you later

aloha a hui hou-goodbye, ‘til we meet again

e malama pono-take care

aue!-wow!

e kama mai-excuse me/I’m sorry

e’olu’olu-please

‘O wai kou inoa?-What’s your name?

‘O ___ ko’u inoa.-___ is my name. (*more in grammar section)

IV.Grammar

A. Nouns and Subjects

1. Noun Announcers—every noun must be preceded by one.

Singular nouns / Plural nouns
the / ke/ka / na
this / keia / keia mau
that / kela / kela mau
my / ko’u / ko’u mau
your (singular you) / kou / kou mau
his/her / kona / kona mau

a. ka is used for about 80% of nouns

b. ke is used for nouns beginning with k, a, e, o, and ‘

c. keia and kela may stand alone as subjects, but their plurals can’t

d. ‘o is a name announcer used for proper nouns

2. Adding adjectives to nouns (within a sentence)

a. general form:(noun announcer)(noun)(adjective)

b. adjectives simply follow the noun they describe

B.Descriptive sentences

Of the form: “Noun is adjective.” in English.

General form:(adjective)(noun announcer)(noun)

*note that pronouns do not take an announcer.

C. Identification sentences- relating two nouns

1. announced by either he or ‘o

a. he is used for common, generic nouns (like a/an) and no other noun announcer is needed.

b. ‘o is used before any other noun announcer, which is retained.

2. Declarative

a. general form:he/’o (subject2)(subject1)

b. subjects= (noun announcer if retained)(noun)(any adjectives)

c. equivalent English form: “(subject 1) is (subject2).”

3. Questions

a. no rearrangement is needed to change a statement into a question, just change in inflection.

b. special question words:

(he) aha-what

(‘o) wai -who

c. what or who goes in the subject2 spot above

d. equivalent English form: “(subject2) is (subject1)?” because of English question inversion.

d. note that ‘O wai kou inoa? translates literally into English as “Who is your name?” or even more literally as “Your name is who?”

D.Predicates or “tails”

1. announced by i

2. general form: (rest of sentence) i (noun announcer)(noun)

3. multiple tails may be added

E.Location sentences: relating a noun and a place

1. announced by aia

2. general declarative form:Aia (subject) i (location)

3. special question word:

(aia) i hea-where

4. general question form:Aia i hea (subject)?

F.Action sentences:

1. general form:(verb)(subject)(predicate)

2. formatting verbs:

past tense-Ua (verb)

present tense-Ke (verb) nei

future tense-E (verb) ana

3. note that the “naked” verb is timeless, indicating ongoing or habitual action

G. Commands

1. positive command (do):

general form:E (verb)

2. negative command (don’t):

general form:Mai (verb)

3. as in English, there is an “understood you”

4. a predicate or more information is easily added to the sentence