How to Say “Twins” in Hawaiian

By Chase George • Updated October 16, 2026

māhū

/maːˈhuː/

The Hawaiian word for twins is māhū.

The term māhū refers to two children born from the same pregnancy.

How do you pronounce it?

/maːˈhuː/

Did you know?

In other Polynesian languages, such as Māori, the cognate māhū means 'gentle' or 'easy' rather than referring to twins.

Example conversation

Kiana and Keanu are looking at a photo of a couple's children.

Kiana

He māhū kēia mau keiki?
Are these children twins?
Keanu

ʻAe, he māhū lākou.
Yes, they are twins.
Kiana

He like loa lākou.
They look very much alike.
Keanu

ʻAe, he like loa.
Yes, very alike.

Sources

Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry māhū, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.

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About The Author

Chase George

Aloha! I'm Chase, an enthusiast of Hawaiian culture and language. Through my writing, I paint broad strokes with words, unearthing the beauty of the Hawaiian's melodic dialect. My love for nature, sports, animals, and sharing life's blessings finds a home in my work. When I'm not playing basketball or gazing at stars, I enjoy immersing myself within 'ohana' (family) and translating common words and phrases to Hawaiian. Ho'omaika'i 'Ana (Congratulations) to me, for I am ever ready to dive deep into the Pacific ocean of Hawaiian language to draw out pearls of wisdom for you. Let’s kākau (write)!

Chase GeorgeHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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