noho i lalo
To say "sit down" in Hawaiian, use noho i lalo.
noho i lalo is a verb phrase used to describe the action of assuming a sitting position from a standing position.
Meaning: to assume a sitting position from a standing position (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of noho (to sit) and i lalo (down/below).
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the phrase into a command or an instruction to sit down, you add the particle e at the beginning, resulting in e noho i lalo.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, the concept of noho relates to stability and presence, which is why it is used for both sitting and inhabiting a home.
- In traditional Hawaiian social structures, where one noho or sits in relation to others can signal social rank or respect.
- The word lalo descends from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian word daləm, which is also a distant relative of the Tagalog word lalim meaning 'depth'.
Examples in context
- E noho!Sit down!
- E noho i lalo i ka papa.Sit down on the floor.
- E noho i lalo ma ka lapa.Sit down on the bench.
Example conversation
Malia and Keanu are in a living room.
- MaliaKeanu, e noho i lalo i kēia noho.Keanu, sit down on this chair.
- KeanuMahalo, Malia.Thank you, Malia.
- MaliaE nānā i ka puke.Look at the book.
- KeanuHe puke maikaʻi kēia.This is a good book.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lalo, noho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
