moehewa
/ˌmo.eˈhe.wa/
The Hawaiian word for nightmare is moehewa.
moehewa is a noun used to describe a dream.
Meaning: dream (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has four syllables, with the stress on the third syllable. It is pronounced /ˌmo.eˈhe.wa/.
Did you know?
- The word moehewa literally translates to 'sleeping wrong', combining moe meaning 'to sleep' and hewa meaning 'to be wrong' or 'error'.
- In Hawaiian culture, the distinction between a 'correct' sleep and a 'wrong' sleep like a moehewa can imply a spiritual or unsettled state.
- The word moehewa shares a common root with the Māori word moehewa, reflecting the historical connection between these Polynesian languages.
Example sentences for Hawaiian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Ikaika wakes up startled in the middle of the night.
- IkaikaHe moehewa koʻu!I had a nightmare!
- NoelaniHe aha kāu moehewa?What was your nightmare?
- IkaikaHauʻoli loa ʻole ia.It was not happy at all.
- NoelaniE moe hou, Ikaika.Sleep again, Ikaika.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nightmare” translations and entries moehewa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moehewa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
