ua
/ˈu.a/
The Hawaiian word for rain is ua.
ua is a noun used to describe an instance of particles falling.
Meaning: an instance of particles falling (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable. In the International Phonetic Alphabet, it is pronounced /ˈu.a/.
Did you know?
- The word ua is a distant relative of the Tagalog word for rain, ulan, and the Malay word hujan, sharing a common ancestor from thousands of years ago.
- In Hawaiian culture, rain is often viewed as a blessing from the gods, particularly the rain god Lono, who is associated with fertility and agriculture.
- In traditional Hawaiian navigation, observing the types of ua and the direction of the wind was essential for sailors to predict land proximity.
Examples in context
- Ua malino ka ua.The rain is gentle.
- Hiki ke ʻike i ka ua.The rain can be seen.
- Hiki ke hoʻolohe i ka ua.One can hear the rain.
Example conversation
Kiana and Koa are looking out the window.
- KianaE nānā i ka ua!Look at the rain!
- KoaHe ua pōkole ia.It is a short rain.
- KianaE hele ana ka ua.The rain is going away.
- KoaMaikaʻi kēlā, Kiana.That is good, Kiana.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
