E komo mai
In Hawaiian, welcome is expressed as E komo mai.
The phrase E komo mai translates to 'come in' or 'enter' and is used to extend a formal invitation or welcome someone into a specific place. You may also use Aloha to mean 'hello', 'goodbye' or 'love'.
Meaning: greeting given upon someone's arrival (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the particle e (used for commands), komo (to enter/come in) and mai (a directional particle indicating movement toward the speaker).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase E komo mai functions as an imperative command to 'come in,' which is the standard way to express 'welcome' to a guest.
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the act of welcoming guests is tied to the concept of ho‘okipa, which is the art of hospitality and making a stranger feel like family.
- The phrase E komo mai is frequently paired with the 'shaka' gesture, a rotated thumb and pinky finger, to signal a relaxed and friendly welcome.
- The directional particle mai in E komo mai has roots stretching back to Proto-Austronesian, a prehistoric language family spoken across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Examples in context
- E komo mai i kona hale.Welcome to her home.
- E komo mai i ka hale kūʻai.Welcome to the store.
Example conversation
Ikaika welcomes Kiana to his house.
- IkaikaE komo mai, Kiana!Welcome, Kiana!
- KianaMahalo, Ikaika.Thank you, Ikaika.
- IkaikaHele mai i loko.Come inside.
- KianaMahalo loa.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries komo, mai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
