But: akā

Level 2

Say the first sentence, a comma, akā, and the sentence that goes against it.

How It Works

Akā usually links two whole sentences. It marks the second one as a contrast to the first.

First partAkāSecond part
Maikaʻi ka hana,akāpōkole ka manawa.
Ua kelepona au iā ia,akāʻaʻole ʻo ia i pane mai.

The Reference Grammar says akā is usually preceded and followed by a comma in writing, which matches a short pause in speech, and gives Ua makemake au, akā, he hana nui, “I like it, but it is difficult”.

To join two nouns, use a me. To say “or”, use a i ʻole. Poppy teaches each of these on its own.

Examples (5)

  1. Makemake au e hele, akā ua hiamoe ke keiki.

    I want to go, but the child is asleep.

    Akā begins the contrast.

  2. Maikaʻi ka hana, akā pōkole ka manawa.

    The work is good, but the time is short.

    Two short sentences meet at akā.

  3. Ua kelepona au iā ia, akā ʻaʻole ʻo ia i pane mai.

    I called her, but she did not answer.

    A negative sentence can follow akā.

  4. ʻUʻuku ka wai, akā nui ka palaoa.

    There is little water, but plenty of bread.

    Akā sets two amounts against each other.

  5. Ua hana ʻo Kala, akā ua pau ka manawa.

    Kala worked, but the time ran out.

    The comma marks the pause before akā.

How It Connects

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

But: akāLevel 2

Learn This First

Akā joins two sentences with “but” and builds on the joining word a me.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

akā