‘ona
The Hawaiian word for drunk is ‘ona.
‘ona is an adjective used to describe someone who is intoxicated after consuming too much alcohol.
Meaning: intoxicated after drinking too much alcohol (adj)
Did you know?
- If you use the term ‘ona in a spiritual or healing context, it can sometimes refer to a person being 'drunk' on divine or spiritual power. This shifts the meaning from a physical state caused by alcohol to a state of being spiritually possessed or filled.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the concept of being 'drunk' was not a native state because alcohol was not part of the pre-contact lifestyle. Therefore, the word ‘ona is a relatively modern linguistic adoption to describe a specific physiological state.
- The glottal stop in ‘ona is called an ‘okina. In written Hawaiian, it is treated as a full consonant, meaning it is as essential as a 't' or a 'k' for the word's meaning.
Examples in context
- He kanaka ‘ona kēia.This is a drunk man.
Example conversation
Kiana and Koa are at a party.
- KianaHe ‘ona loa ka mea kāne anei?Is that man very drunk?
- KoaʻAe, ‘ona loa ʻia.Yes, he is very drunk.
- KianaHiki iā kāua ke kōkua?Can we help him?
- KoaE kōkua kāua iā ia.Let's help him.
