ʻole
/ˈʔo.le/
The English word zero is translated into Hawaiian as ʻole.
While it can denote the cardinal number before 1, ʻole is used to indicate the absence of a person, thing or quality rather than just the mathematical digit zero. It can also mean none, nothing or without. The word pau (meaning finished or completed) is used to imply zero in a colloquial sense.
Meaning: cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing (num)
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a particle, ʻole can function to mean 'without' or 'lacking' in certain contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable. The IPA is /ˈʔo.le/.
Did you know?
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, there was no specific word for the mathematical concept of 'zero' until Western influence introduced modern arithmetic.
- The word ʻole is used in the common phrase ʻole loa, which translates to 'absolutely not' or 'none at all'.
- Because ʻole denotes absence, it is frequently used in Hawaiian to describe a state of being 'without' a specific emotion or quality.
Example sentences for Hawaiian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Koa and Leilani are checking the score of a game.
- KoaEia ka helu.Here is the score.
- LeilaniHe ʻole ka helu?Is the score zero?
- KoaʻAe, he ʻole nō.Yes, it is zero.
- LeilaniʻOia mau.That is right.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zero” translations and entries ʻole, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
