Questions And Conversations

QUESTION AND CONVERSATIONS
NĀ NĪNAU

Educational Resources In Support Of Hawaiian Language Revitalization

Introductions and Conversations

There are lots of different types of conversations that you might have, ranging from casual to formal and one-on-one to group. In every case, the basic format can be represented in a question-and-answer framework. It's important to practice the basic sentences you'll use in everyday conversation.

General Phrases

Pardon me, I donʻt understand - E kala mai, ʻaʻole au ʻike

Can you repeat that? - ʻOlelo hou?

What is the word for "cat"? - He aha ka hua ʻōlelo no "cat"?

"Popoki" is the word for "cat" - ʻO "popoki" ka hua ʻōlelo no "cat"

What is your name? - ʻO wai kou inoa?

My name is Iokepa - ʻO Iokepa koʻu inoa

Basic Introductions

This basic dialog is typical of a conversation between two people who just met.

ʻO wai kou inoa piha? - What is your full name?

ʻO Iokepa koʻu inoa piha. - My full name is Iokepa Bardwell

No hea ʻoe? - Where are you from?

No Kahului au - Iʻm from Kahului.

Noho ʻoe ma Kahului i kēia manawa? - Do you live in Kahului now?

ʻAe, Noho au ma Kahului i kēia manawa. - Yes, I live in Kahului now.

Mai hea mai ʻoe - Where did you come from?

Mai Wikonakina mai au - I came from Wisconsin.

Ma ke kula hea āu i hele ai ma kou wā ʻopio? - What school did you go to when you were young?

ʻO McDonogh School ke kula aʻu i hele ai ma koʻu wā ʻōpio - I went to McDonogh School when I was young

ʻEhia āu keiki? - How many children do you have?

He ʻelima aʻu mau keiki. - I have five children.

He aha kau hana punahele? - Whatʻs your favorite activity?

ʻO ka holoholo wāwae kaʻu hana punahele. - Hiking is my favorite activity.

He aha kau holoholonā punahele? - Whatʻs your favorite animal?

He pōpoki kaʻu holoholonā punahele. - A cat is my favorite animal.

Some Questions To Ask In ʻŌlelo Hawaii

To have a conversation, you're going to have to ask and answer questions. Here are some questions to give you ideas.

He keiki kāu?

He kaʻa nani kou?

ʻEhia āu moʻopuna?

ʻO wai ka mea i hānai iā ʻoe?

No wai ke kuleana no ke aʻo ʻana i ka ʻōlelo Hawaii?

Inā he kanaka waiwai loa ʻoe, ma hea ana ʻoe e noho ai?

He aha kāu i ʻai ai no ka ʻaina kakahiaka?

He aha kāu e hana ai ma hope o ka papa?

He aha ka mea e pono ai kou hele kula ʻana?

He aha ka mea e pono ai ʻoe?

ʻO wai ka inoa o ka ʻāina i hānai ʻia ai ʻoe?

E aha ana ʻoe i nehinei?

Hiki anei iā ʻoe ke hoʻokani i ka piano?

I ka hola ʻehia ʻoe i ala ai?

I ka makahiki ʻehia ʻoe i hānau ʻia ai?

Me wai ʻoe e noho nei?

Aia ma hea ʻoe i hānai ʻia ai?

No ke aha ʻoe e hele nei i kēia papa?


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