wahaheʻe
The Hawaiian word for "liar" is wahaheʻe.
The term wahaheʻe is a noun used to describe a person who tells lies.
Meaning: one who tells lies (noun)
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian storytelling, the ability to be 'slippery' with words was sometimes associated with the trickster archetype, not always as a negative trait.
- The word wahaheʻe literally translates to a 'slippery mouth'.
- The word heʻe is used to describe anything elusive, meaning a wahaheʻe is someone whose words cannot be 'grasped' or pinned down.
Examples in context
- He wahaheʻe ia.He is a liar.
- ʻAʻole ia he wahaheʻe.He is not a liar.
Example conversation
Malia confronts Kai about a story he told.
- MaliaʻOia ka ʻōlelo maoli, Kai?Is that the truth, Kai?
- KaiʻAe, he mea maoli kēia.Yes, this is true.
- MaliaʻAʻole, he wahaheʻe ʻoe!No, you are a liar!
- KaiE kala mai, Malia.Forgive me, Malia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “liar” translations and entries wahaheʻe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wahaheʻe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
