e heʻe nalu
/e ˈhe.ʔe ˈna.lu/word by word
To surf in Hawaiian is e heʻe nalu.
Meaning: to ride a wave (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the particle e (to), the verb heʻe (to slide or glide) and the noun nalu (wave).
How do you pronounce it?
The phrase consists of 5 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /e ˈhe.ʔe ˈna.lu/.
Did you know?
- In ancient Hawaii, surfing was not just a sport but a spiritual practice where priests would chant to the ocean to call for larger nalu.
- Historically, some Hawaiian chiefs used their skill at e heʻe nalu to demonstrate their strength and right to lead the community.
- The root of nalu can be traced back to an even older term, Proto-Oceanic ŋalun, which specifically described a 'mountain wave'.
Example sentences for Hawaiian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Two friends are standing on the beach looking at the ocean.
- KeanuNoelani, e heʻe nalu kākou!Noelani, let's go surf!
- NoelaniʻAe, he nalu nui kēia lā.Yes, there are big waves today.
- KeanuE nānā i kēlā kanaka e heʻe nalu.Look at that person surfing.
- NoelaniHe maiaho ʻo ia!He is very skilled!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “surf” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (e, heʻe, nalu) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries heʻe, nalu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
