aloha au iā ʻoe
In Hawaiian, "I love you" is said as aloha au iā ʻoe.
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling. Note that the word aloha can also be used in other contexts to express both love and greetings such as hello or goodbye.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of aloha (love), au (I), iā (a particle used before a person as an object) and ʻoe (you).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Hawaiian, the verb typically comes before the subject and the object. In this phrase, aloha is the verb, au is the subject and iā is the particle used to mark the person ʻoe as the object.
Did you know?
- The word aloha originally meant 'to beckon' or 'to wave' in the ancient Proto-Austronesian language. The concept of love evolved from the physical gesture of waving to someone.
- In Hawaiian, aloha is not just a feeling but a spiritual concept representing a way of living in harmony with other people and nature.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the act of saying aloha is often accompanied by a gentle breath or a soft tone to convey the 'ha' or breath of life.
Examples in context
- E pili mau nei, aloha au iā ʻoe.Always stay close, I love you.
Example conversation
Kiana and Koa are saying goodbye for the day.
- KianaE hele pono, Koa.Go safely, Koa.
- KoaMahalo, Kiana. Aloha au iā ʻoe.Thank you, Kiana. I love you.
- KianaAloha au iā ʻoe pū.I love you too.
- KoaA hui hou.Until we meet again.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aloha, au, ʻoe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
