nānā
To look in Hawaiian is to say nānā.
The verb nānā means to try to see. It is frequently used as an imperative command to tell someone to look! or watch!
Meaning: to try to see (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use nānā to mean 'look at [something]', you typically use the preposition i to indicate the object being looked at.
What mistakes should you avoid?
In certain Hawaiian Creole English dialects, the term 'check' is often used instead of 'look'.
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, looking or staring too intently at another person could be interpreted as a challenge or a sign of aggression.
- The Hawaiian word nānā shares a direct ancestor with the Māori word nānā and the Tahitian word nānā from a common Proto-Polynesian root.
- The repetition of sounds in nānā is a common feature in many Polynesian languages, often used to emphasize the action being performed.
Examples in context
- Nānā i ka pua.Look at the flower.
- Nānā i kēlā manu.Look at that bird.
- E nānā i ka hale.Look at the house.
Example conversation
Malia and Koa are walking in a garden.
- MaliaKoa, e nānā i ka pua!Koa, look at the flower!
- KoaHe pua nani ia.That is a beautiful flower.
- MaliaHe ʻala loa ia.It is very fragrant.
- KoaʻAe, he nani loa ia.Yes, it is very beautiful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nānā, CC BY-SA 4.0.
