How to Say “Bless You” in Hawaiian

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ke akua pūlama mai
The English phrase 'bless you' is translated into Hawaiian as ke akua pūlama mai.
This phrase is used as an interjection when someone has sneezed.
Meaning: said to somebody who has sneezed (intj)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase literally translates to 'the god/divinity shine/bless upon [you]'.

How does it change in a sentence?

The particle mai in this phrase indicates that the direction of the action is toward the speaker or the person being addressed.

Did you know?

  • The word akua is a cognate of the Māori word atua and the Samoan atua, reflecting a shared linguistic root across the Polynesian triangle.
  • In traditional Hawaiian culture, the concept of akua often referred to a broad category of spirits or deities rather than a single monolithic god.

Example conversation

Ikaika and Noelani are sitting in a living room together.

  1. Ikaika

    *Sneeze*
    *Sneeze*
  2. Noelani

    Ke akua pūlama mai, Ikaika!
    Bless you, Ikaika!
  3. Ikaika

    Mahalo, Noelani.
    Thank you, Noelani.
  4. Noelani

    ʻOe ke welcome.
    You are welcome.

Sources

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Donna Vivian
Donna VivianHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.
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