E kala mai
I am sorry in Hawaiian is E kala mai.
E kala mai is used both to seek forgiveness for a specific mistake and as a general way to express that you are sorry.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase E kala mai literally translates to 'Forgive me' or 'Grant forgiveness'.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can make the object of the forgiveness explicit by adding the pronoun iaʻu (me) to the end of the phrase, resulting in E kala mai iaʻu.
Did you know?
- The word kala is a homonym in Hawaiian, meaning it can refer to 'forgiveness' but also to 'money' or 'dollar'.
- In traditional Hawaiian settings, a sincere apology might be paired with a small gift or a gesture of service to restore balance, known as 'pono'.
- The term kala also carries the historical meaning of 'to untie' or 'to undo', which provides a beautiful metaphor for 'undoing' a mistake through an apology.
Examples in context
- Aloha, e kala mai iaʻu no ke kuleana o kuʻu hana i hoʻohewa ai.Hello, please forgive me for the responsibility of my actions that caused harm.
- E kala mai i koʻu hoʻopunipuni ʻana.Forgive me for deceiving you.
- E kala mai iaʻu.Please forgive me.
Example conversation
Noelani accidentally bumps into Koa while walking.
- NoelaniE kala mai, Koa!I am sorry, Koa!
- KoaʻO manaʻo nō, Noelani.It is okay, Noelani.
- NoelaniHe lilo ia i kīmā.It was an accident.
- KoaʻAʻole he pilikia.No problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kala, mai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
