e minamina ana au
e minamina ana au is the Hawaiian way to say my condolences.
This phrase is used to offer sympathy to someone who has experienced the death of a loved one.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the particle e and the marker ana to indicate a continuous or ongoing state of expressing sympathy, translating literally to I express sympathy.
Did you know?
- The marker ana in this phrase shares a linguistic root with the word for 'handspan' in several Proto-Oceanic languages.
- Unlike English, where 'condolences' is often a noun, the Hawaiian expression is structured as an active state of being in sorrow with another person.
Examples in context
- E minamina ana au no ka ʻohana.My condolences to the family.
Example conversation
Ikaika talks to Leilani after a funeral.
- IkaikaE minamina ana au, Leilani.My condolences, Leilani.
- LeilaniMahalo nui, Ikaika.Thank you very much, Ikaika.
- IkaikaKe kōkua mai nei au.I am here to help.
- LeilaniMahalo no kou aloha.Thank you for your love.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ana, au, CC BY-SA 4.0.
