Even the Hawaiian dictionary can be confusing…

Aloha mai,

So, what other pitfalls are we falling into when learning Hawaiian?

Most of us are learning Hawaiian through an English lens or perspective. It makes sense that we would carry our understanding of English words into another language, but this can also be a pitfall in our progress toward fluency. 

For example, “uhae” and “nahae” can mean “torn” and “to tear”, but shouldn’t be used interchangeably.

One reason people mix them up is that the dictionary definitions are confusing when you’re looking up a word to express “to tear”. However, “Uhae” and “nahae” are actually very different in their meanings and what most people don’t catch is that “na” before words put it into a state of being and change the way they can be used. 

There are other words that are commonly misused. For example: wehe meaning “to open” and hemo meaning “open” as in the state of being open. 

The solution to this pitfall is to consistently listen to Native speakers, practice speaking, and read old newspapers. You’ll build your Hawaiian vocabulary, learn how and when to use words correctly, and increase your ability to express yourself.

Also, don’t get lazy and make up new words when you can’t find the right word. If you’re unsatisfied with the words that are already available and are having trouble expressing yourself, I’d be happy to help.

If you have a specific question, send me an email. If you really want to learn Hawaiian, avoid these kinds of pitfalls, and build fluency, go sign up for my Hawaiian Language courses.

E hui hou no i keia pule ae,

Malu

Ka-alala.mykajabi.com