kou inoa
/ˈkou̯ iˈno.a/word by word
The phrase "your name" in Hawaiian is kou inoa.
kou inoa is used to refer to the name of the single person you are speaking to.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive pronoun kou (your, singular) and the noun inoa (name).
Which one should you use?
While kou inoa refers to the name of one person, you should use ʻoukou inoa when you are addressing more than one person and want to say "your names".
How does it change in a sentence?
The form kou inoa specifically refers to the name of one person being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈkou̯ iˈno.a/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Hawaiian has specific words for different types of names, such as inoa pō, which refers to a 'night name' or a name given in a dream.
- In ancient Hawaii, some people had an inoa given at birth and a separate 'secret name' known only to a few close relatives.
- The word kou is a homonym in Hawaiian. While it means 'your' in the phrase kou inoa, it is also the name of a native species of the 'Cordia' tree.
Example conversation
Koa and Malia meet at a local community gathering.
- KoaAloha, he aha kou inoa?Hello, what is your name?
- MaliaAloha, ʻo Malia koʻu inoa.Hello, my name is Malia.
- KoaHauʻoli ʻia e hui pū me ʻoe, Malia.Nice to meet you, Malia.
- MaliaHauʻoli nō hoʻi, Koa.Nice to meet you too, Koa.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (kou, inoa) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries inoa, kou, CC BY-SA 4.0.
