ʻōlelo

Hawaiian

Etymology

Either from:

• alelo, from Proto-Polynesian *qalelo (cognate with Maori arero), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *deləq (compare Kiput deleiʔ), doublet of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dilaq (compare Tagalog dila, Malay lidah).
• Proto-Polynesian *kolelo thus cognate with Maori kōrero.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔoːˈle.lo/, [ʔoːˈlɛ.lo]

Noun

ʻōlelo

1. language, speech
2. word, term
3. statement
4. quotation, utterance
5. tidings

Verb

ʻōlelo

1. to speak, talk, converse
2. to say, mention, tell
3. to state
4. to quote

Derived terms

• pahu ʻōlelo