Hauʻoli male ʻana
The Hawaiian phrase for "congratulations on your wedding" is Hauʻoli male ʻana.
This phrase is used to express joy and good wishes to a couple who have just married.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "happiness of being married" or "happy marriage".
Did you know?
- In a twist of linguistic coincidence, the word male in Hawaiian also shares a root with the Proto-Polynesian word for 'cough'.
- While Hauʻoli male ʻana is the literal phrase, wedding guests in Hawaii often accompany such wishes with a 'lei' draped around the couple's necks.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the concept of 'ohana' extends the congratulations of a wedding to the entire extended family, not just the couple.
Example conversation
Koa and Leilani meet at a wedding reception.
- KoaAloha Leilani, hauʻoli male ʻana!Hello Leilani, congratulations on your wedding!
- LeilaniMahalo nui loa, Koa!Thank you very much, Koa!
- KoaHe lā nani kēia, ʻehia?This is a beautiful day, isn't it?
- LeilaniʻAe, he lā kupaianaha kēia.Yes, this is an amazing day.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hauʻoli, hauʻoli, male, CC BY-SA 4.0.
