Aloha au iā ʻoe
In Hawaiian, "I love you" is expressed as Aloha au iā ʻoe.
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of aloha (love/affection), au (I), iā (an object marker used before people) and ʻoe (you).
How does it change in a sentence?
In this sentence structure, the word au (I) follows the verb aloha. Additionally, the particle iā must be used before the pronoun ʻoe because "you" is the object of the affection, forming iā ʻoe.
Did you know?
- The word aloha originally meant 'to beckon' or 'to wave' in its ancestral languages. This connection suggests that the very essence of 'love' in Hawaiian is tied to a physical gesture of greeting.
- The word au in this phrase means 'I', but it is also a homonym for the word meaning 'current' or 'flow'.
- While we use 'love' as a noun or verb in English, the word aloha functions as a versatile concept that can be a greeting, a feeling, and a way of life.
Examples in context
- E kuʻu pili, aloha au iā ʻoe.My dear, I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is watching the sunset on the beach.
- KianaKai, aloha au iā ʻoe.Kai, I love you.
- KaiAloha nō iā ʻoe, Kiana.I love you too, Kiana.
- KianaHe mea koʻikoʻi kēia.This is a precious thing.
- KaiʻAe, he mea koʻikoʻi nō.Yes, it truly is precious.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Aloha, aloha, au, ʻoe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
