Our, Your Two and Their
For two or more owners, ko or kā stands apart and the pronoun follows.
How It Works
Kāua, māua, ʻolua and lāua are for two people. Kākou, mākou, ʻoukou and lākou are for three or more. Put the pronoun after kā or ko.
| Owners | a class | o class |
|---|---|---|
| we, you included | kā kāua, kā kākou | ko kāua, ko kākou |
| we, you not included | kā māua, kā mākou | ko māua, ko mākou |
| you (two or more) | kā ʻolua, kā ʻoukou | ko ʻolua, ko ʻoukou |
| they | kā lāua, kā lākou | ko lāua, ko lākou |
The Reference Grammar shows ko māua makuakāne, kā lākou ʻīlio, kā lāua and ko lāua kaikuahine “their sister”. The forms with ʻolua follow the same pattern, because the pronoun stays whole after kā or ko, but we did not find them written out. Some writers spell ko with a kahakō.
Examples (4)
- Ke noho nei ko māua makuakāne ma Maui.
Our father lives on Maui.
The speakers leave you out, and a father takes ko.
- Ke ʻai nei kā lākou ʻīlio i ka iʻa.
Their dog is eating the fish.
A dog takes kā.
- Maikaʻi kā kākou mea ʻai.
Our food is good.
The speakers include you, and food is commonly a class.
- Ke heluhelu nei kā ʻoukou keiki i ka puke.
Your children are reading the book.
Keiki takes kā, and the owners are three or more.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The forms for “our” and “their” combine the classes with the pronouns for two or more.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Our, Your Two and Their in Bubblegum
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