Hawaiian Pronunciation

[Pooka]

(Hope it's okay to post this here, to accompany our 'Desert Island Words' thread.)

HAWAIIAN PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

It is important, as Islanders, that we know how to properly pronounce the Hawaiian words. You need only remember 7 consonants (H, K, L, M, N, P, and W) and well, 5 vowels.

Unlike many other languages, every letter is pronounced, usually as written, and there are no Rs at the end of words to skip over, as many do in some parts of the world ; nor are there any Ts that magically turn into Ds in the middle of words. So, the better for us all.


a is pronounced like the 'a' in ta
e is pronounced like the 'e' in fishing net
i is pronounced like the second 'i' in chiquita *
o is pronounced like the 'o' in crusoe
u is pronounced like the 'u' in tune




Remember, every letter is pronounced, including every vowel, so if you see two or three, even four, vowels placed together, you must pronounce them all, in a beautiful, eloquent liaison. In addition, the w is sometimes pronounced by authentic Hawaiians as a 'v' sound.


So, what are you waiting for? Go book your flight to Hawai'i.

* Mexican pronunciation guide available upon request.

[Crusoe]

Pooka said:

u is pronounced like the 'u' in tune

Not as in “Puka”?

[Pooka]

Oh dear, how do you pronounce tune?

[Starfish]

tewn

[Starfish]

or t-you-n?

[Puuka]

Alright then, instead of:

Pooka said:

u is pronounced like the 'u' in tune

... how about:

u is pronounced like the 'oo' in cartoon

[Blue]

Guest-Starfish said:

tewn

Didn't Petula Clarke sing that tewn Going Down Tewn

;D

[Nurse Duckett]

The Aga-Saga woman had a different take on pronounciation and enunciation, Pooka.

Whereas you and I would say "oh, hello", she'd say "Air, Hellair" and whereas you and I had a nanny she had a "nyan-nyair" and our house is her "haise" except that she probably doesn't live in anything as dull and predictable and, well, bourgeois as a house.

Oh I do so hope there aren't any crashing snobs on this Island.

I chose the colour "Beige" because there was no option for "Taupe"

Taupe is IMHO a made-up Air Hellair word for Beige.

edited to add: but you can't see my Taupe bit unless you highlight it. Good.

[Captain Nudnick]

'Taupe' is French -- it means 'mole', so I suppose it's mole colour.

[Starfish]

Nurse said:

"Air, Hellair"

That's a load of sit-com bellocs!

[Nurse Duckett]

Guest-Starfish said:

That's a load of sit-com bellocs!

Then I can only assume, Starfish, that you have not heard it enunciated.

[Starfish]

I think I have been around the kind of enunciation that might lead comedy writers to exaggerate for the sake of humour

[Hawaiian Automod]

Nurse said:

The Aga-Saga woman had a different take on pronounciation and enunciation, Pooka.

Whereas you and I would say "oh, hello", she'd say "Air, Hellair"...

You see, Hawaiians need only remember one word for such a greeting, or any greeting for that matter...

ALOHA!


And although the Automod would be able to explain how to pronounce the word ta'upe, I haven't a clue what it would mean.



Hi Nursie!

[Tiger Lil']

Alo-ha I like the colour taupe vair vair much !

[Nurse Duckett]

Guest-Hawaiian said:

You see, Hawaiians need only remember one word for such a greeting, or any greeting for that matter...

ALOHA!

Doesn't Aloha mean both Hallo and Goodbye? (as featured in Miss Congeniality)

Same in Italy. Ciao![/i] is, in my experience, both a way of getting rid of a pest, and alternatively a way of saluting a gorgeous fanciable bloke along the way to the beach.

They do the same. Ciao, Bella! they shout, enthusiastically. The only response required is EH.