These and Those

Level 2

Mau makes the demonstratives plural. Put it between kēia, kēnā or kēlā and the noun.

How It Works

The three demonstratives kēia, kēnā and kēlā point to one thing near the speaker, near the listener, and away from both. To point to more than one, put mau after them.

SingularPlural
kēia keiki this childkēia mau keiki these children
kēnā puke that book (near you)kēnā mau puke those books (near you)
kēlā hale that house (far)kēlā mau hale those houses (far)

The Reference Grammar lists kēia mau, kēnā mau and kēlā mau as the plural demonstratives. The noun after mau keeps its usual form, and the article is not used, because the demonstrative takes its place.

Examples (5)

  1. Makemake au i kēia mau puke.

    I like these books.

    Mau comes after kēia and before the noun.

  2. Ua ʻono kēlā mau ʻuala.

    Those sweet potatoes were tasty.

    Kēlā mau points to things far away.

  3. Ua kūʻai ʻo Leilani i kēnā mau pāpale.

    Leilani bought those hats near you.

    Kēnā mau points to things near the listener.

  4. Ua nui kēia mau ʻīlio.

    These dogs have grown big.

    A describing word can stand first with ua.

  5. Aia kēlā mau hale ma kēlā alanui.

    Those houses are on that road.

    Kēlā appears twice: kēlā mau hale is more than one house, and kēlā alanui, without mau, is one road.

How It Connects

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

These and ThoseLevel 2

Learn This First

These words take mau to mean “these” and “those”.

Words in This Pattern

kēiakēlāmau