koʻu
/ˈko.ʔu/
The Hawaiian word for "my" is expressed as koʻu or kaʻu.
Meaning: belonging to me (det)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| koʻu | /ˈko.ʔu/ |
| kaʻu | /ˈka.ʔu/ |
Both forms are possessive determiners used to indicate that something belongs to the speaker.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two forms depends entirely on the first letter of the noun that follows them. Use koʻu before words that begin with a consonant and use kaʻu before words that begin with a vowel.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Hawaiian, the form of the word for "my" changes based on the starting sound of the following noun: use koʻu when the following noun begins with a consonant and kaʻu when the following noun begins with a vowel.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈko.ʔu/. The first of two syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- Hawaiian has two different types of possession, and the word for 'my' changes depending on whether you own something you control or something you cannot control, like a child or a parent.
- The use of kaʻu before a vowel prevents an awkward 'glottal stop' or a clash of sounds that would make the language harder to sing or chant.
- The word kaʻu is a direct linguistic relative of the Māori word taku, which is used in New Zealand to mean the same thing.
Examples in context
- Makemake au e hele i ʻAukekulelia me koʻu ʻohana.I want to go to Australia with my family.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use koʻu before a word starting with a consonant.Tatoeba #3084167 by Objectivesea, translation #498452 by adjusting
- He kumu ko'uMy teacher
- Ka'u manawa alohaMy precious time
- He koʻu mea kēia.This is my thing.
Example conversation
Noelani and Keanu are talking about their pets.
- NoelaniHe ʻīlio nani koʻu.I have a beautiful dog.
- KeanuHe ʻīlio nani hoʻi koʻu.My dog is beautiful too.
- NoelaniHe inoa aha koʻu ʻīlio?What is my dog's name?
- KeanuHe inoa maikaʻi kēlā.That is a good name.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my” translations and entries koʻu, kaʻu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaʻu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
