ʻawa
/ˈʔa.wa/
The English phrase 'ava' is translated to Hawaiian as ʻawa.
ʻawa refers to a traditional drink prepared from the root of a pepper plant. In many English-speaking contexts, particularly in the South Pacific, this plant and its drink are commonly referred to as 'kava'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st of 2 syllables. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈʔa.wa/.
When do people say it?
The consumption of ʻawa is a central part of traditional Hawaiian social and ceremonial protocols.
Did you know?
- Because ʻawa has a natural sedative effect, it was historically used by Hawaiian chiefs to facilitate peaceful negotiations and resolve conflicts.
- The name ʻawa is phonetically distinct because it begins with an ʻokina, a glottal stop that is a vital consonant in Hawaiian.
- The English name 'kava' and the Hawaiian ʻawa share the same Proto-Polynesian ancestor, kawa, which described the drink's bitter quality.
Examples in context
- ʻAwa i loko o ka pū.The ʻawa is in the cup.
- He ʻawa kēia.This is ʻawa.
- E ʻono ai ka ʻawa.The ʻawa tastes good.
Example conversation
Two friends are relaxing together at home.
- NoelaniKoa, e inu kākou i ka ʻawa.Koa, let's drink some ʻawa.
- KoaʻAe, he manaʻo maikaʻi kēlā.Yes, that is a good idea.
- NoelaniE lawe mai i ka kōpaki ʻawa.Bring the ʻawa bowl.
- KoaE hele au i ka hale lana.I will go to the kitchen.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ʻawa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ʻawa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
