make
/ˈma.ke/
The Hawaiian verb 'to die' can be expressed as make or make loa.
Meaning: to stop living (verb)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| make | /ˈma.ke/ |
| make loa | /ˈma.ke ˈlo.a/ (word by word) |
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈma.ke/. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, the concept of death is often discussed using euphemisms rather than the direct word make to avoid bringing bad luck.
- The root of make is found in dozens of languages across the Pacific and Southeast Asia, including Tagalog, Fijian, and Malagasy.
- Hawaiian possesses different words for 'death' depending on whether it is a natural passing or a violent end, though make is the general term.
Examples in context
- E make ana ka pua.The flower is dying.
- ʻAʻole e make ka manaʻo.The feeling will not die.
Example conversation
Keanu and Noelani are talking about a pet fish.
- KeanuUa make kou iʻa?Did your fish die?
- NoelaniʻAe, ua make ʻo ia anuhia.Yes, it died yesterday.
- KeanuHe mea ʻino kēlā.That is a sad thing.
- NoelaniʻAe, ua make ia i kēia mau lālā.Yes, it died in these gills.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “die” translations and entries make, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (make, loa) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries loa, make, CC BY-SA 4.0.
