mokupuni nani
The English phrase "beautiful island" is translated into Hawaiian as mokupuni nani.
This phrase is used to describe a landmass surrounded by water that is pleasing to the eye.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mokupuni (island) and nani (beautiful or splendid).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Hawaiian, the adjective nani follows the noun mokupuni that it modifies.
Did you know?
- While nani means 'beautiful', it is also used as a verb meaning 'to be beautiful' or 'to adorn', showing that beauty is an action in Hawaiian.
- The word mokupuni literally describes the physical state of being 'surrounded' by the sea, as it is built from the words for 'section' and 'surrounded'.
- In Hawaiian, the word moku can refer to a single island or a group of islands, meaning mokupuni nani could describe a beautiful archipelago.
Examples in context
- He mokupuni nani kēia.This is a beautiful island.
Example conversation
Keanu and Noelani are looking at a photo of Hawaii.
- KeanuHe mokupuni nani kī!It is a beautiful island!
- NoelaniʻAe, he nani loa ī.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- KeanuMakemake au e kīku i ka mokupuni nani kī.I want to go to the beautiful island.
- NoelaniHuikahi kī kī.Let's go together.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mokupuni, CC BY-SA 4.0.
