hoʻomaikaʻi
The Hawaiian word for congratulations is hoʻomaikaʻi.
hoʻomaikaʻi is most commonly used as a standalone exclamation to congratulate someone. It can also function as a noun meaning a blessing or praise.
Meaning: expressing approbation (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the root maikaʻi, meaning good, combined with the prefix hoʻo-, which acts as a causative marker. Literally, the term means to bless, to praise or to congratulate.
How does it change in a sentence?
To direct your congratulations toward a specific person, use the preposition iā followed by the person, as seen in the phrase hoʻomaikaʻi iā ʻoe (congratulations to you).
Did you know?
- The glottal stop, represented by the symbol ʻ in hoʻomaikaʻi, is a full consonant. Skipping it would change the word and could make the phrase unintelligible to a native speaker.
- While hoʻomaikaʻi is used for congratulations, the Hawaiian language has a distinct concept called mana, a spiritual power that is often what is being recognized or praised during a celebration.
- In Hawaiian, the same root maikaʻi found in hoʻomaikaʻi is used to say 'thank you' in some older or more formal contexts, blending the ideas of 'goodness' and 'gratitude'.
Examples in context
- Hoʻomaikaʻi iā ʻoe!Congratulations to you!
- Hoʻomaikaʻi iā kēia ʻohana.Congratulations to this family.
Example conversation
Ikaika is congratulating Malia on her new job.
- IkaikaHoʻomaikaʻi iā ʻoe no kēia hana hou!Congratulations to you for this new job!
- MaliaMahalo nui, Ikaika.Thank you very much, Ikaika.
- IkaikaHe mea nui kēia.This is a big deal.
- MaliaʻOia mau nō.It certainly is.
