manō
/maˈnoː/
The Hawaiian word for shark is manō.
In a formal or spiritual context, Aumakua Manō is used to refer to a shark spirit or deity.
Meaning: fish (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural form, the sharks, you use Nā Manō.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈnoː/
When do people say it?
In Hawaiian culture, sharks can be regarded as a spiritual entity known as Aumakua Manō, representing a shark spirit or deity.
Did you know?
- In some Hawaiian legends, certain manō are believed to be the reincarnated forms of high-ranking chiefs.
- Because of their spiritual status, certain species of shark were historically protected from being eaten by specific families to avoid offending their guardian spirits.
- In many Polynesian languages, the word for shark is remarkably consistent, showing how much seafaring culture preserved its vocabulary across thousands of miles.
Examples in context
- Ua ʻike ʻia kahi manō.A shark was seen.
- He manō nui kēlā.That is a big shark.
Example conversation
Kai and Malia are swimming in the ocean.
- KaiMalia, e nānā i kēlā manō!Malia, look at that shark!
- MaliaAia kēlā? He mea mīkī kēlā.Is it there? That is a small thing.
- KaiʻAʻole, he manō maoli kēlā.No, that is a real shark.
- MaliaE hele kākou i luna!Let's go up!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shark” translations and entries manō, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
