Toward and Away: mai and aku
Add mai after a verb when the action comes toward you, and aku when it goes away from you.
How It Works
Hawaiian often says the direction of an action with a small word after the verb. The reference point is the speaker.
| Word | Direction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mai | toward the speaker | E hele mai ʻoe. Come here. |
| aku | away from the speaker | Ua hoʻi aku ʻo ia. He went back. |
The pair works for actions with no walking at all. If a teacher calls you, the verb takes mai. If you write to a friend, it takes aku. The Reference Grammar calls these words directionals and gives E hele mai ʻoe (iaʻu) for “Come (to me)” and E hele aku ʻoe for “Go”.
This mai is different from the mai in mai hele (“do not go”) and from the mai that means “from”. Those are separate rows.
Examples (5)
- E hele mai ʻoe i ka hale.
Come to the house.
Mai shows the movement is toward the speaker.
- Ua hoʻi aku ʻo ia i ka hale.
He went back home.
Aku shows he went away from the speaker.
- Ua kelepona mai ke kumu iaʻu.
The teacher called me.
Mai shows the call came toward the speaker.
- Ua hāʻawi mai ʻo Noelani i ka puke iaʻu.
Noelani gave me the book.
The book moved toward me, so mai.
- Ke kākau aku nei au i ka leka iā ʻoe.
I am writing the letter to you.
The letter goes away from the writer, so aku.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These directional words say toward or away from the speaker and follow the verb.
Related Patterns
- Up and Down: aʻe and iho
Two more directionals, for up and down.
Level 2 - mai: Come, Do Not and From
Mai also means from, and it can mean do not.
Level 3 - Telling Someone Not To
A separate use of mai before a verb.
Level 1 - mai and aku With Saying and Giving
Mai and aku with verbs of speaking.
Level 3 - Telling Someone to Do Something
Commands often take a directional.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Toward and Away: mai and aku in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Hawaiian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
