HAWAIIAN GOODNESS
Even for the Mainlander
Duolingo Category #1: Intro
For the "Intro," there is a Tips section. Take a peek at that,
and/or my explanation below.
Basic Vocab
- Aloha = Hello / Greetings; Goodbye
- ʻAe = Yes
- ʻAʻole = No
- Mahalo = Thank you
- ʻAi = To eat
- Hele = To go
- ʻōlelo = Language [as a noun]; To speak [as a verb]
- Lei = [as a verb] To wear a lei, to give a lei
Duolingo tries to immerse you with some traditional Hawaiian names. Meaning, you're not supposed to be familiar with these names beforehand, you're supposed to recognize them as you go! You'll see this in the practice below.
Lessons Taught
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Basic vocab
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The use of " E "
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"Lei" as a verb
The use of " E "
This word is among several in the Hawaiian language that is not literally translatable - so you'll have to learn how it's used in a Hawaiian sentence, rather than memorize its "definition."
1. "E" can be used before a name or a noun. When it is, it is used to tell that name/noun that you are speaking to them directly. For example:
Aloha e Kaleo.
[Hello Kaleo.]
The speaker is talking to Kaleo in this sentence. If the speaker was talking about Kaleo ("Kaleo is funny" - speaking about Kaleo in the third person), then a different word is used [introduced later].
2. "E" can be used before a verb. When it is, it is used as a command (you are telling someone to do that verb). For example:
E hele!
[Go!]
The speaker is commanding someone to "go" in this sentence. If the speaker was not commanding (e.g."I go to the house"), then a different sentence is used [introduced later].
Let's see these two uses together in the same sentence:
E hele, e Kaʻiulani.
[Go, Ka'iulani.]
We know the speaker is talking to Kaʻiulani directly because her name is preceded by "e," and we know the speaker is commanding her to "go" because the verb "hele" is preceded by "e."
We all know about the pretty flower necklace known as a "lei." This word, in Hawaiian, can also be used as a verb to mean "adorn [with a lei]." On Duolingo, they use both translations "to give a lei" and "to wear a lei" - both are correct. Don't fret too much about this odd word, as they won't bring it up beyond this category.
ʻAe, e lei.
[Yes, wear a lei.]
[Yes, give a lei.]
Woman adorning herself with a lei
~~~
"Lei" as a verb
PRACTICE!
Practice what you learned by translating these sentences copied/pasted from this category of Duolingo. The English translations are below. When you feel confident enough, try translating the English into Hawaiian!
Then: try it on Duolingo!
Hawaiian Sentences:
ʻAʻole!
ʻAe, mahalo.
ʻAʻole, mahalo.
Aloha e Kaleo.
Aloha e Kaʻiulani.
Aloha e Keoki.
Mahalo, e Kawika!
E hele!
E ʻai!
Mahalo! E ‘ai!
ʻAe, e lei.
E hele, e Kaʻiulani.
E ʻōlelo, e Kawika.
~~~
Translations:
No!
Yes, thank you.
No, thank you.
Hello Kaleo.
Hello Ka'iulani.
Hello Keoki.
Thank you, Kawika!
Go!
Eat!
Thank you! Eat!
Yes, wear a lei. / Yes, give a lei.
Go, Ka'iulani.
Speak, Kawika.
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