makaʻu
The Hawaiian word for "coward" is makaʻu.
makaʻu is a noun used to describe a person who lacks courage.
Meaning: a person who lacks courage (noun)
Did you know?
- The word makaʻu shares a deep ancestral root with words in languages spoken in Southeast Asia, dating back to Proto-Austronesian.
- In Hawaiian, the concept of fear is often linked to the eyes, as maka means 'eye'.
- While makaʻu means 'coward' as a noun, it is also used as an adjective meaning 'afraid' or 'fearful'.
Example conversation
Keanu and Leilani are talking about a scary movie.
- KeanuUa makaʻu ʻoe i ka kiʻi motion?Were you a coward during the movie?
- LeilaniʻAʻole, ʻo ʻoe ka makaʻu!No, you are the coward!
- KeanuHe mea ʻino kēlā.That is a bad thing.
- LeilaniHe mea ʻokoʻa wale nō.It is just something different.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries makaʻu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
