Family Words
Many family words name the exact relationship.
How It Works
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| makuakāne | father |
| makuahine | mother |
| makua | parent |
| kaikamahine | daughter |
| keiki kāne | son |
| kupuna | grandparent |
You may see “father” written as one word, makuakāne, or as two, makua kāne. The Reference Grammar puts parents, grandparents and brothers and sisters in the o class (koʻu makuahine), and the children of a person take the a class (kaʻu keiki, kaʻu kaikamahine). The word for family is ʻohana.
Kupuna covers both grandparents and respected elders, so the sentence shows which is meant. Kinship words are also the first place to practice the a and o classes, because each family word comes with its class: koʻu makuahine, kaʻu keiki. ʻOhana is the family as a whole.
Examples (4)
- ʻO koʻu makuahine ke kumu.
My mother is the teacher.
A mother takes koʻu.
- Ke noho nei koʻu makuakāne ma Hilo.
My father lives in Hilo.
A father takes koʻu.
- Ua hele kaʻu kaikamahine i ke kula.
My daughter went to school.
A daughter is a child, so kaʻu.
- Ke kōkua nei koʻu kupuna iaʻu.
My grandparent is helping me.
A grandparent takes koʻu.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- What Takes O: Family, Body and Home
Covers the nouns that take the o class.
Level 3 - What Takes A: Children, Pets and Chosen Things
Covers the nouns that take the a class.
Level 3 - Older and Younger Siblings
Covers the older and younger sibling words.
Level 3 - Identifying a Particular Thing
Covers ʻo before a noun.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Family Words in Bubblegum
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