mahalo
/maˈha.lo/
The Hawaiian word for grateful is mahalo.
mahalo is used to describe expressing gratitude or appreciation regarding a person, their actions or their feelings.
Meaning: of a person or their actions, feelings, etc.: expressing gratitude or appreciation (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous or progressive state of being grateful or expressing thanks, the particle e and the marker ana are used around the word to form e mahalo ana.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /maˈha.lo/.
Did you know?
- While we use it to express thanks, the root of mahalo is actually related to the concept of 'deliciousness' or 'tastiness'.
- Beyond simple gratitude, mahalo can be used as a spiritual acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world.
- While mahalo means 'thank you' today, it historically referred to a state of respect, admiration and gratitude combined into one concept.
Example conversation
Ikaika thanks Malia for bringing him dinner.
- IkaikaMahalo no ka ʻaina, Malia.Thank you for the food, Malia.
- MaliaHe mea iki kēlā, Ikaika.It was nothing, Ikaika.
- IkaikaUa mahalo loa au i kou aloha.I am very grateful for your kindness.
- MaliaWelina, Ikaika.You're welcome, Ikaika.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mahalo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mahalo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
