manu
/ˈma.nu/
The English word bird is translated into Hawaiian as manu.
manu is a general term used to refer to any kind of bird.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈma.nu/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian mythology, the manu is often seen as a messenger between the human world and the divine.
- In its ancient ancestral forms, such as Proto-Nuclear Polynesian, the word manu actually meant 'kite' instead of 'bird'.
- The word manu belongs to a massive linguistic family that stretches from Madagascar to Easter Island.
Examples in context
- He manu kēlā.That is a bird.
- Ua ʻike au i ka manu.I saw the bird.
- He manu nani kēia.This is a beautiful bird.
Example conversation
Koa and Kiana are walking in a park.
- KoaKiana, nānā i kēlā manu!Kiana, look at that bird!
- KianaHe manu kiʻi kēlā?Is that a pet bird?
- KoaʻAʻole, he manu i ka ʻaoʻao.No, it is a wild bird.
- KianaHe mea nani ia.It is a beautiful thing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bird” translations and entries manu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries manu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
