kaʻu keiki kāne
In Hawaiian, the phrase for "my son" is kaʻu keiki kāne.
The phrase is used by a parent to refer to their male child. You may also use kuʻu keiki kāne to express intimacy or affection, which is common when speaking about your own children.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kaʻu keiki kāne is composed of kaʻu (my), keiki (child) and kāne (male/man).
Which one should you use?
The form kuʻu keiki kāne is used to convey a more intimate or affectionate tone. Additionally, ku'u keiki kamaliʻi can be used to express endearment specifically toward a "little son".
When do people say it?
When expressing emotions of sorrow or concern, you might hear the informal expression Auē, ku'u keiki to mean "my child" or "my son".
Did you know?
- Because Hawaiian uses different possessive forms for 'my', you can actually signal to a listener whether you are speaking formally or affectionately just by changing one vowel.
- The word kāne is linked to the broader Proto-Polynesian term for 'person', meaning the concept of 'man' is deeply rooted in the linguistic idea of 'humanity'.
Examples in context
- ku'u pua kāneMy son
- Ua hauʻoli kaʻu keiki kāne.My son is happy.
Example conversation
Koa and Noelani are talking about their family.
- KoaE nānā i kaʻu keiki kāne.Look at my son.
- NoelaniHe kanaka maikaʻi ʻo ia.He is a good person.
- KoaMahalo, Noelani.Thank you, Noelani.
- NoelaniʻO ia au!You're welcome!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaʻu, keiki, kāne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
