pua ʻāhiu
The English phrase 'wildflower' is translated into Hawaiian as pua ʻāhiu.
The term pua ʻāhiu is used to refer to a wild flowering plant.
Meaning: wild flowering plant (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Hawaiian nouns do not change form to indicate plurality. The context or a number word determines if pua ʻāhiu is singular or plural.
Did you know?
- While pua ʻāhiu describes a wildflower, the word pua is also used to describe the 'bloom' or 'froth' of a breaking wave.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, certain pua are categorized as pua aliʻi, meaning 'royal flowers', which were reserved specifically for high-ranking nobility.
- The word pua shares a prehistoric root with the Malay word bunga, reflecting the shared Austronesian ancestry of these distant island cultures.
Example conversation
Noelani and Ikaika are walking through a meadow.
- NoelaniHe aha kēia pua ʻāhiu?What is this wildflower?
- IkaikaʻAʻole au ʻike i ka inoa.I do not know the name.
- NoelaniHe pua ʻāhiu kōkī kēia.This is a rare wildflower.
- IkaikaHe nani loa ia.It is very beautiful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
