ʻelua
/ʔeˈlu.a/
The English phrase 'two' is translated into Hawaiian as ʻelua. Wiktionary also lists lua.
Meaning: cardinal number 2 (num)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| ʻelua | /ʔeˈlu.a/ |
| lua | /ˈlu.a/ |
This term represents the cardinal number 2.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. It is pronounced /ʔeˈlu.a/.
Did you know?
- The word lua is a homonym in Hawaiian, meaning both 'two' and 'pit' or 'hole'.
- The ancestor of lua can be traced back to the Proto-Austronesian root *duSa, which is the ancient source for 'two' in hundreds of related languages.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the number ʻelua can be used to describe a pair or a duality, which often carries spiritual significance.
Examples in context
- ʻElua aʻu pōpoki.I have two cats.This sentence is useful for learning how to express the quantity of cats using ʻelua.Tatoeba #3081441 by RoyalBee, translation #2412739 by fjrjdk
- Ua hānau ʻo ia i nā keiki ʻelua.She gave birth to two children.
Example conversation
Leilani and Keanu are counting fruit.
- LeilaniHe hoeveel na ʻōmai?How many are here?
- KeanuHe ʻelua nā ʻapple.There are two apples.
- LeilaniʻOia au!That is it!
- KeanuʻAe, ʻelua wale nō.Yes, only two.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “two” translations and entries ʻelua, lua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lua, ʻelua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
