māmā
/maːˈmaː/
The Hawaiian word for swift is māmā.
māmā is an adjective used to describe something that is fast, quick or rapid.
Meaning: fast, quick, rapid (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of māmā is /maːˈmaː/.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian, the word māmā can mean both 'swift' and 'light' in weight. This reflects a logical link where something lighter is often easier to move quickly.
- Hawaiian uses a system called kaona, where a word like māmā might have a hidden, deeper meaning depending on the poetic context of a song or chant.
- The ancestral root of 'māmā' likely comes from a Proto-Malayo-Polynesian term, linking the Hawaiian concept of speed to ancient seafaring cultures.
Examples in context
- E hele wikiwikiGo quickly
- Holo wikiwiki i ka pōRun quickly in the night
- He māmā ka lio.The horse is fast.
Example conversation
Kai and Leilani are watching a race.
- KaiPehea ka lio?How is the horse?
- LeilaniHe māmā loa kona holo.Its run is very fast.
- KaiUa māmā loa ʻo ia!He was so quick!
- LeilaniʻAe, he lio māmā ʻo ia.Yes, he is a fast horse.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry māmā, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries māmā, CC BY-SA 4.0.
