Hawaï
/a.wa.i/feminine
The English phrase Hawaii is translated into French as Hawaï. Wiktionary also lists Hawaii.
Meaning: state of the United States (name)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaï | /a.wa.i/ /a.waj/ |
feminine |
| Hawaii | feminine |
Hawaï is the name for the state of the United States in French.
Which one should you use?
The spelling Hawaï uses a tréma over the i, which is the standard French orthography. The spelling Hawaii follows the English version.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is feminine. For the specific geographical feature of the Big Island, you can use La grande île d'Hawaï.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.wa.i/
Did you know?
- The French name Hawaï is derived from the ancestral Polynesian word Hawaiki, which refers to a mythical homeland.
- Because Hawaï is feminine, a French speaker will use feminine pronouns when personifying the islands in poetry or literature. They might say 'Elle est magnifique' to refer to 'Hawaï'.
- While English uses the word 'Hawaii', the French spelling Hawaï uses a tréma to force the pronunciation of both vowels separately. Without this mark, a French reader might attempt to pronounce the 'a' and 'i' as a single sound, like 'way'.
Examples in context
- Es-tu déjà allé à Hawaï ?Have you ever been to Hawaii?This sentence uses Hawaï to ask about a past visit.Tatoeba #334573 by sysko, translation #34963 by CN
- J’aimerais aller à Hawaii.I'd like to go to Hawaii.This sentence uses Hawaii to express a desire to visit.Tatoeba #13131 by zmoo, translation #34972 by CN
- Je souhaite aller à Hawaï.I wish to go to Hawaii.This sentence uses Hawaï to express a wish to go there.Tatoeba #7353022 by Aiji, translation #255439 by CK
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are looking at travel photos on a laptop.
- EmmaRegarde ces photos de Hawaï.Look at these photos of Hawaii.
- HugoC'est magnifique, Emma.It is magnificent, Emma.
- EmmaOn devrait y aller un jour.We should go there one day.
- HugoC'est une excellente idée.That is an excellent idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hawaii” translations and entries Hawaï, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hawaï, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
