And, With: a me

Level 2

Put a me between the two names or things you join.

How It Works

Hawaiian has more than one word for “and”. A me joins two noun phrases, and a plain a joins verb phrases, according to the Reference Grammar.

JoinedExample
two namesUa hele ʻo Keoni a me Kala i ke kula.
two thingska palaoa a me ka waiū
name and pronounʻo Leilani a me aʻu

Notice the pronoun: after a me the grammar shows aʻu, as in Hauʻoli ʻoe a me aʻu (“You and I are happy”). It is the same form that follows me.

After a me, a name can follow the same way as the first one: Kala, Keola.

Examples (5)

  1. Ua hele ʻo Keoni a me Kala i ke kula.

    Keoni and Kala went to school.

    A me joins the two names.

  2. Ua kūʻai au i ka palaoa a me ka waiū.

    I bought bread and milk.

    A me joins two things.

  3. Ke hana nei ʻo Leilani a me aʻu.

    Leilani and I are working.

    After a me, “I” is aʻu.

  4. Ke kuke nei ka makuahine a me ka makuakāne.

    Mother and father are cooking.

    The article stays before each noun.

  5. Ua ʻai ke keiki i ka ʻuala a me ka palaoa.

    The child ate sweet potatoes and bread.

    A me joins the two objects.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

And, With: a meLevel 2

Words in This Pattern

a me