Mahalo iā ʻoe
The Hawaiian phrase for "I appreciate you" is Mahalo iā ʻoe.
Mahalo iā ʻoe is used to express gratitude to someone for something they have done.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mahalo (thanks/gratitude), iā (a preposition used before names or pronouns) and ʻoe (you).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express gratitude to a group of people instead of one person, replace ʻoe with ʻoukou to say Mahalo iā ʻoukou.
Did you know?
- The word mahalo is a distant relative of the Tagalog word masarap, which means 'delicious'.
- In Hawaiian culture, saying mahalo is considered an extension of aloha and a way of sharing life force and affection.
- When speaking to someone of much higher social status, the standard Mahalo iā ʻoe may be replaced by different honorific structures.
Examples in context
- Mahalo iā ʻoe no kēia.I appreciate you for this.
- Mahalo iā ʻoe no ka lōkahi.I appreciate you for the cooperation.
Example conversation
Kiana thanks Keanu for carrying her bags.
- KianaMahalo iā ʻoe no ka lawe ʻana i nā kapa.I appreciate you for carrying the bags.
- KeanuʻAʻole he mea, Kiana.It is nothing, Kiana.
- KianaHe mea kōkua loa ʻoe.You are very helpful.
- KeanuHauʻoli au e kōkua.I am happy to help.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mahalo, ʻoe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
