E kala mai iaʻu!
The Hawaiian phrase for sorry is E kala mai iaʻu!
E kala mai iaʻu! is used to express apology or regret for a mistake or an offense.
Meaning: expression of regret or sorrow (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means 'Forgive me!' The word kala means to forgive or release, and iaʻu means me.
Did you know?
- The word kala also means 'money' in modern Hawaiian, which is a loanword from the English 'dollar'.
- In Hawaiian culture, the concept of kala is linked to the idea of releasing a burden or removing a spiritual restriction.
- The word kala in the apology shares a linguistic ancestor with words meaning 'spine' or 'thorn' in other Polynesian languages.
Examples in context
- E kala mai iaʻu!Please forgive me!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iaʻu, kala, mai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
