moeʻuhane
The English word "dream" (referring to imaginary events seen while sleeping) is translated into Hawaiian as moeʻuhane. Wiktionary also lists moe.
Meaning: imaginary events seen while sleeping (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| moeʻuhane | |
| moe | /ˈmo.e/ |
moeʻuhane is used to describe the imaginary events or visions experienced during sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The word moeʻuhane is a compound of moe, meaning to sleep and ʻuhane, meaning spirit or soul.
Which one should you use?
While moeʻuhane refers to the dream itself, the word moe alone means the act of sleeping.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word moeʻuhane functions as both a noun (a dream) and a verb (to dream).
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, dreams were often viewed as omens or messages from ancestors rather than mere subconscious imagination.
- The word ʻuhane used in moeʻuhane also describes a ghost or a spirit that has departed from the living world.
- The word moe can also mean 'to lie down' or 'to be placed', showing that in Hawaiian, the act of sleeping is linguistically tied to the physical position of the body.
Examples in context
- He moeʻuhane maikaʻi kēia.This is a good dream.
Example conversation
Malia and Ikaika are talking about a strange night in the morning.
- MaliaUa ʻike ʻoe i ka moeʻuhane?Did you have a dream?
- IkaikaʻAe, he moeʻuhane kēlā.Yes, it was a dream.
- MaliaHe moeʻuhane maikaʻi kēlā?Was it a good dream?
- IkaikaʻAʻole, he moeʻuhane ʻino kēlā.No, it was a bad dream.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dream” translations and entries moe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
