he hūpō ʻoe
The Hawaiian phrase for "you're stupid" is he hūpō ʻoe.
This phrase is used to tell someone that they lack intelligence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "a stupid person [are] you".
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the word he functions as an indefinite article (a/an) used to create a predicate that describes the subject.
Did you know?
- While he hūpō ʻoe is a direct way to call someone stupid, Hawaiian culture often relies more heavily on euphemisms or subtle context rather than direct insults to maintain 'pono' or balance.
- The word ʻoe used in this phrase is a cognate with the word 'koe' found in the Māori and Rapa Nui languages.
- The word hūpō originally describes a person who is confused, dazed or lacks awareness, rather than just someone with a low IQ.
Examples in context
- He hūpō ʻoe.You're stupid.
- ʻAʻole, he hūpō ʻoe.No, you're stupid.
Example conversation
Kai and Leilani are arguing over a simple game.
- KaiHe hūpō ʻoe!You're stupid!
- LeilaniʻAʻole au!I am not!
- KaiʻAe, he hūpō ʻoe.Yes, you're stupid.
- LeilaniHaʻahaʻa mai, Kai.Be humble, Kai.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ʻoe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
