he mea iki
The Hawaiian phrase for "you're welcome" is he mea iki. Wiktionary also lists he mea ʻole.
Meaning: reply to thanks (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian |
|---|
| he mea iki |
| he mea ʻole |
These phrases are used as a reply to someone thanking you.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase he mea iki literally translates to "it is a small thing", while he mea ʻole literally translates to "it is nothing".
Which one should you use?
He mea iki is often used to convey the sense of "it was no big deal," whereas he mea ʻole is a more direct way of saying "it's nothing".
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the spirit of aloha emphasizes mutual responsibility, meaning that helping others is often seen as a natural duty rather than a favor.
- The word mea shares the same linguistic ancestor as the Māori word mea, meaning 'thing' or 'object'.
- In some contexts, a person might respond to a thank you by saying aloha instead of he mea iki, using the word as a general expression of affection and harmony.
Examples in context
- He mea iki.You're welcome.
- He mea iki wale nō.It was nothing at all.
- He mea iki kēia.This is a small thing.
Example conversation
Kai helps Leilani carry a heavy bag.
- LeilaniMahalo nui, Kai!Thank you very much, Kai!
- KaiHe mea iki, Leilani.You're welcome, Leilani.
- LeilaniHe mea kōkua loa kēia.This is a big help.
- KaiʻOle loa.Not at all.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “you're welcome” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mea, CC BY-SA 4.0.
