moe
/ˈmo.e/
To sleep in Hawaiian is moe. Wiktionary also lists hiamoe.
Meaning: to rest in state of reduced consciousness (verb)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| moe | /ˈmo.e/ |
| hiamoe | /hi.aˈmo.e/ |
The phrase refers to the act of resting in a state of reduced consciousness.
Which one should you use?
hiamoe can serve as a noun to describe the state of sleep.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈmo.e/.
Did you know?
- Hawaiian belongs to the Austronesian family, meaning moe is a distant relative of words for sleep in languages spoken across the Pacific islands and as far away as Madagascar.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, dreams occur during moe, and these dreams were often viewed as spiritual communications or premonitions rather than mere subconscious thoughts.
- The word moe is also used to mean 'to lie down' or 'to be prone'. In Hawaiian, the physical act of reclining and the state of sleeping are expressed by the same word.
Examples in context
- E moe ana au.I am sleeping.
- Moe maika'i, e keiki.Sleep well, child.
- E hiamoe au.I am going to sleep.
- E hiamoe pono!Sleep well!
- Makemake au e moe.I want to sleep.
Example conversation
Malia and Kai are talking before bed.
- MaliaKai, e moe mai.Kai, go to sleep.
- KaiʻAʻole au hiki ke moe.I cannot sleep.
- MaliaE moe i kēia manawa.Sleep right now.
- KaiʻAe, e moe au.Yes, I will sleep.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sleep” translations and entries moe, hiamoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
