Saying W

Level 1

Hawaiian w has two sounds. After u or o it sounds like w, after i or e it usually sounds like v, and speakers vary elsewhere.

How It Works

The letter w has a soft sound that sits between English w and v. Where it falls in the word helps decide how it sounds:

AfterUsually sounds like
u or ow
i or ev, said lightly
a, or at the start of a wordw or v

Speakers differ, and the sources describe it as a general pattern. So Hawaiʻi is said with either sound, and you will hear both. The spelling does not change. Write w, not v.

Examples (5)

  1. wai

    water

    At the start of a word, w can sound like w or v.

  2. ʻewalu

    eight

    After e, the w usually sounds like v.

  3. ʻeiwa

    nine

    After i, the w usually sounds like v.

  4. uwē

    to cry

    After u, the w sounds like w.

  5. Hawaiʻi

    Hawaiʻi

    After a, you will hear w or v.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing v for the w sound.

    ʻevalu
    ʻewalu

    Hawaiian spells the sound with w, even when it sounds like v.

How It Connects

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

Saying WLevel 1

Learn This First

The w changes sound next to certain vowels, so learners need the consonant list first.