e moe mālie
The Hawaiian phrase for "sleep well" is e moe mālie.
e moe mālie is used to wish someone a peaceful and undisturbed night of sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the particle e (used for commands or wishes), moe (to sleep) and mālie (calm, peaceful or quiet).
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle e at the beginning of the phrase marks it as an imperative or a wish, which is why it is used to express the desire for someone to sleep well. A natural way to use this in a sentence is E moe mālie i ka pō, meaning "Sleep peacefully during the night".
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, the concept of mālie implies a state of being calm or quiet that is often associated with the stillness of the ocean. Using it to wish someone sleep connects their rest to the gentle movement of the sea.
- The word moe is a linguistic relative of the Māori word moe used in New Zealand. This shows how closely related the Hawaiian language is to other Polynesian tongues.
- Because moe can also mean 'to lie down', the phrase e moe mālie functions as both a wish for sleep and a request for a person to lie down in a calm manner.
Examples in context
- E moe mālie i kēia pō.Sleep well tonight.
- E moe mālie, e ke keiki.Sleep well, little child.
Example conversation
Koa and Noelani are saying goodnight before going to bed.
- KoaAloha e Noelani, e moe mālie.Goodbye Noelani, sleep well.
- NoelaniMahalo, e Koa. Aloha.Thank you, Koa. Goodbye.
- KoaE moe mālie.Sleep well.
- NoelaniAloha.Goodbye.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moe, mālie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
