Hawaiian edit

Etymology edit

Possibly a reduplication of wai (fresh water); more likely, a reduplication of wai, a rare form of waiho (to leave, deposit).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /wai̯ˈwai̯/, [ʋəjˈʋɐj], [ʋəjˈʋɛj] (rapid speech)

Verb edit

waiwai

  1. (stative) to be rich

References edit

  • Elbert, Samuel H.; Pukui, Mary Kawena (1979) Hawaiian Grammar, Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press, →ISBN, page 67