e ola
/e ˈo.la/word by word
In Hawaiian, the phrase for "be well" is e ola.
This phrase is used to express a wish for someone to be healthy and happy, frequently serving as a way to say farewell. You can modify the phrase to change its intensity or intent: e ola loa expresses a strong wish for someone to be very well, while e ola hou is used to wish someone a recovery or a renewed state of wellness.
What does it mean word for word?
The particle e is used here to express a command or a wish, and ola means life, health or well-being.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the word hou (meaning again or new) to the phrase to create e ola hou, which means "be well again". You can also add the intensifier loa to create e ola loa, meaning "be very well".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /e ˈo.la/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, ola is closely tied to the concept of 'breath' and the vital energy that sustains a living being.
- The root of ola can be traced back to the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian word wada, meaning 'to exist'.
- Because ola encompasses both health and life, e ola can be used in contexts where an English speaker might say 'long live' or 'survive'.
Examples in context
- Aloha! E Ola Mau!Hello! Be well always!
- E ola pono.Be well.
- E ola maikaʻi kākou.Let us all be well.
- E ola nō ʻoe.May you be well.
Example conversation
Two friends are saying goodbye after a walk.
- MaliaUa māluhiko ka lālā.The branch is broken.
- IkaikaE ola, Malia.Be well, Malia.
- MaliaMahalo, Ikaika.Thank you, Ikaika.
- IkaikaA hui hou.Until we meet again.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (e, ola) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ola, CC BY-SA 4.0.
