ʻē
/ˈʔeː/
The Hawaiian word for "weird" is ʻē.
ʻē is an adjective used to describe something that is bizarre or deviates from what is considered normal.
Meaning: deviating from the normal, bizarre (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔeː/
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian, the glottal stop represented by the ʻ (okina) is a full consonant and is essential for the meaning of ʻē.
- The word ʻē shares a common ancestor with the Rapa Nui word ꞌēē used on Easter Island. This connection shows how the concept of being 'different' spread across the vast Pacific through ancient seafaring migrations.
- Hawaiian uses the concept of ʻē to describe things that are 'different' or 'diverse' in a neutral way, not just things that are 'strange'.
Examples in context
- ʻē kēia kānaka.This person is weird.
- He mea ʻē kēia leo.This sound is weird.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a strange object on the beach.
- KeanuKeanu, nānā i kēia mea ʻē.Keanu, look at this weird thing.
- LeilaniʻAe, he aha kēlā?Yes, what is that?
- KeanuʻAʻole au i ʻike i kēia mauka.I have never seen this before.
- LeilaniHe mea ʻē maly.It is a weird thing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ʻē, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
