Reading Older Spelling

Level 6

Older writing often leaves out the ʻokina and kahakō, so read for the word, not for the marks.

How It Works

Compare how one word looks in older and modern writing.

Older writingModern spelling
oleloʻōlelo language
HawaiiHawaiʻi
koukou your, or koʻu my

The last row is the problem. Without the ʻokina, two words look the same, and only the sentence tells them apart. If you can, find a modern edition of an old text. When you must read the original, go slowly, and use context.

Reading older writing is a skill that comes later. If a word looks odd, say it aloud, then try the marks you know: ʻokina before a vowel, as in ʻōlelo and Hawaiʻi, kahakō on a long vowel.

Examples (4)

  1. ʻōlelo

    language, to speak

    Older writing shows it as olelo.

  2. Hawaiʻi

    Hawaiʻi

    Older writing leaves off the ʻokina.

  3. koʻu

    my

    Older writing shows it as kou, like the word for your.

  4. kāne

    man

    Older writing leaves off the kahakō.

How It Connects

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

Reading Older SpellingLevel 6

Learn This First

Older books drop the ʻokina and the kahakō.