nā kuahiwi
The English phrase "mountains" is translated into Hawaiian as nā kuahiwi.
nā kuahiwi refers to large natural elevations of the earth's surface.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is kuahiwi. The word nā is the plural definite article, making nā kuahiwi mean "the mountains".
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, mountains were often seen as the ancestral bones of the earth.
- Hawaiian has several different words for 'mountain' depending on whether it is a volcanic cone, a ridge, or a peak.
- The word kuahiwi is built from the image of a mountain's 'back' and 'ridge', stemming from the Proto-Polynesian term for a mountain's physical spine.
Examples in context
- Hiki ka ʻike ʻana i nā kuahiwi.The mountains can be seen.
Example conversation
Kai and Noelani are looking at a landscape photo.
- KaiHe nani kēia mau kuahiwi, ʻē Noelani?These mountains are beautiful, aren't they, Noelani?
- NoelaniʻAe, he kiʻekiʻe loa nā kuahiwi.Yes, the mountains are very tall.
- KaiE hele kākou i nā kuahiwi.Let's go to the mountains.
- NoelaniʻAe, e hele kākou!Yes, let's go!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kuahiwi, nā, CC BY-SA 4.0.
