A Short Introduction to the Hawaiian Language
I.
II.
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.
Vocabulary
A. Nouns
1. Everyday stuff:
‘ohana
-family
hoaaloha
-friend
kanaka
-human
kane
-man
wahine
-woman
haumana
-student
kumu
-teacher
kula
-school
papa
-class
puke
-book
aloha
-love
inoa
-name
hale
-building
haleku’ai
-store
ka’a
-car
kala
-money
kama’a
-shoe
papale
-hat
holoholona -animal
i’a
-fish
manu
-bird
popoki
-cat
‘ilio
-dog
noho
-chair
pakaukau
-table
mea’ai
-food
mea inu
-drink
wai
-water
lei
-garland
hula
-dance
pa’ina
-party
papa he’enalu -surfboard
2. Nature terms:
ua ‘akika
-acid rain
ku’ono
-bay
kahakai
-beach
panini
-cactus
awawa huhoho -canyon ana
-cave
pali
-cliff
wao one
-desert
pu’e one
pua
pu’u
wao nahele
‘aina
mahina
moana
nu’u laulaha
muliwai
one
pupu
la
awawa
nalu
B. Pronouns
wau/au
‘oe
‘o ia
C. Adjectives
‘ula’ula
melemele
uliuli
‘ele’ele
hinahina
maika’I
maluhiluhi
nui
kahiko
hau’oli
nani
anuanu
ikaika
pololi
makewai
pa’akiki
‘olu’olu
moloa
‘omalumalu
D. Verbs
hele mai
hana
‘ai
hiamoe
ha’awi
wehe
heluhelu
-dune
-flower
-hill
-jungle
-land
-moon
-ocean
-plateau
-river
-sand
-seashell
-sun
-valley
-wave
honua
nahele
mokupuni
loko
kula mau’u
kuahiwi
meakanu
anuenue
pohaku
kai
hoku
kumula’au
wailele
ulu la’au
-earth
-forest
-island
-lake
-meadow
-mountain
-plant
-rainbow
-rock
-sea
-star
-tree
-waterfall
-woods
-I
-you (singular)
-he/she
kakou
‘oukou
lakou
-we (all of us)
-you all
-they/them
-red
-yellow
-blue
-black
-grey
-good, well
-tired
-big
-old
-happy
-pretty
-cold
-strong
-hungry
-thirsty
-difficult
-kind, comfortable
-lazy
-cloudy
‘alani
‘oma’oma’o
poni
ke’oke’o
‘akala
‘ino
ma’i
li’ili’i
hou
kaumaha
pupuka
wela
nawaliwali
ma’ona
kena
ma’alahi
‘ono
kapulu
makani
-orange
-green
-purple
-white
-pink
-bad
-sick
-little
-new
-sad
-ugly
-hot
-weak
-full of food
-not thirsty
-easy
-delicious
-messy
-windy
-come
-work
-eat
-sleep
-give
-open
-read
hele
pa’ani
inu
ala
ku’ai mai
pani
kakau
-go
-play
-drink
-wake up
-buy
-close
-write
III.
‘olelo
-speak
‘ike
-see
ho’olohe
-listen
alaka’i
-lead
‘au’au
-bathe, swim
holo
-run
he’enalu
-surf
Phrases
A. Greetings
1. General form: “Aloha (time)
kama’ilio
nana
‘aka’aka
maka’ika’i
holoi
lele
honi
-converse
-watch, look
-laugh
-sightsee
-wash
-jump
-kiss, smell
(# 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
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
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
Descriptive sentences
Of the form: “Noun is adjective.” in English.
General form:
(adjective)(noun announcer)(noun)
*note that pronouns do not take an announcer.
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?”
Predicates or “tails”
1. announced by i
2. general form: (rest of sentence) i (noun announcer)(noun)
3. multiple tails may be added
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)?
Action sentences:
1. general form:
(verb)(subject)(predicate)
2. formatting verbs:
past tense
-Ua (verb)
present tense
-Ke (verb) nei
G.
future tense
-E (verb) ana
3. note that the “naked” verb is timeless, indicating ongoing or habitual
action
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