|
BASIC VOWEL SOUNDS
| a = "uh" = as the a in above (usually in unstressed syllables) | ||
| a = "ah" = as the a in far (usually in stressed syllables) | ||
| e = "eh" = as the e in bet (generally kept soft) | ||
| e = "ay" = as the ay in say (generally stressed syllables) | ||
| i = "ee" = as the ee in the word see | ||
| o = "oh" = as the o in the word note | ||
| u = "oo" = as the oo in the word soon | ||
WORDS AND COMMON PLACE NAMES
| WORD/NAME | PRONUNCIATION | MEANING 1 |
| [ ] denotes diphthongs (linked together with stress on 1st syllable); All caps denotes stressed syllables | ||
| `a`a | `uh-`AH | clinkery, rough lava |
| pahoehoe | PAH-[hoh eh]-[hoh eh] | smooth, unbroken lava |
| Hawai`i | Huh-[wah ee]-`EE | * |
| Kilauea | KEE-[lah oo]-[eh uh] | spewing, much spreading volcanic eruptions |
| Mauna Loa | [Mah oo]-nuh Loh-uh | long mountain |
| Mauna Kea | [Mah oo]-nuh Keh-uh | white mountain |
| Pu`u `O`o | Poo-`OO `OH-`OH | `o`o (Hawaiian Honey Creeper) hill |
| Kohala | Ko-huh-luh | small barrenness |
| Hualalai | Hoo-uh-LAH-[lah ee] | * |
| Haleakala | Huh-leh-ah-kah-LAH | house [used] by the sun |
| Lo`ihi | Loh-`EE-hee | to lengthen, extend, prolong |
| Maui | [Mah oo]-ee | named after demigod Maui |
| Kaua`i | [Kah oo]-uh-EE | * |
| Moloka`i | Moh-loh-kuh-`EE | * |
| Honolulu | Hoh-noh-loo-loo | protected bay |
| Lana`i | LAH-nuh-`EE | day [of] conquest |
| Ni`ihau | Nee-`EE-[hah oo] | * |
| Kaho`olawe | Kah-hoh-`OH-luh-veh | carrying away (by currents) |
| O`ahu | Oh-`AH-hoo | * [refutated meaning - gathering place] |
| Mauna Ulu | [Mah oo]-nuh Oo-loo | growing mountain |
| Halema`uma`u | Huh-leh-muh-`OO-muh-`OO | fern house |
| Kupaianaha | Koo-[pah ee]-uh-nuh-huh | surprising, strange,wonderful, amazing, extraordinary, marvelous; astonishing situation |
| * has no Hawaiian meaning | ||
| 1 From Hawaiian Dictionary(rev. 1986) and Place Names of Hawaii(rev. 1974) Pukui et al. | ||
Contact: hvowebmaster@usgs.gov
Updated: 5 Feb 1999