māluhiluhi
The English phrase 'tired' is translated into Hawaiian as luhi or māluhiluhi.
Meaning: in need of rest or sleep (adj)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| māluhiluhi | |
| luhi | /ˈlu.hi/ |
Both words are used to describe the state of being in need of rest or sleep.
Which one should you use?
While māluhiluhi is a valid way to express being tired, luhi is the more common, everyday form.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone has become tired (the state of being tired), place the particle ua before the adjective, as in ua luhi.
Did you know?
- The word luhi shares an unexpected history with the Māori word paruhi, which means 'favourite' or 'darling'.
- Hawaiian adjectives like luhi can function as predicates without a verb like 'to be', meaning the word itself conveys both the quality and the state of being.
- The word māluhiluhi is derived from maluhi, which specifically carries the meaning of being 'dull' or 'sleepy' rather than just physically exhausted.
Examples in context
- Māluhiluhi au i kēia manawa.I am tired right now.
- Ua māluhiluhi ka poʻe.The people are tired.
Example conversation
Keanu and Malia are relaxing at home after a long day.
- KeanuMāluhiluhi loa au i kēia lā.I am very tired today.
- MaliaUa māluhiluhi pū au, Keanu.I am tired too, Keanu.
- KeanuE hele kākou e hiamoe.Let's go to sleep.
- MaliaʻAe, he manaʻo maikaʻi kēlā.Yes, that is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tired” translations and entries māluhiluhi, luhi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries luhi, māluhiluhi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
