Asking Who

Level 1

ʻO wai means “who”. It also asks for a name.

How It Works

Wai is the question word for “who”. It sits after ʻo, like a name would:

QuestionAnswer
ʻO wai kēlā keiki?ʻO Keoni kēlā.
ʻO wai kou inoa?ʻO Noelani koʻu inoa.

Hawaiian asks for a name with “who is your name?”. The answer reuses the shape: ʻo, the name, and the thing named. Careful with the ʻokina: kou is “your” and koʻu is “my”.

Wai also means “water”. In this question it is the word for “who”.

Examples (5)

  1. ʻO wai kou inoa?

    What is your name?

    Wai asks for the name.

  2. ʻO Noelani koʻu inoa.

    My name is Noelani.

    The answer starts with ʻo and the name.

  3. ʻO wai kēlā keiki?

    Who is that child?

    Kēlā points to a child far from both of you.

  4. ʻO Keoni kēlā.

    That is Keoni.

    ʻO and the name answer the question.

  5. ʻO wai kēlā?

    Who is that?

    Kēlā points to a person far from both of you.

How It Connects

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

Asking WhoLevel 1

Learn This First

Asking who someone is uses ʻo and the answer is a name.

Words in This Pattern

waiʻo