Health & Hospital

33 phrases · Hawaiian with romanization, English and audio

  1. Ua maʻi au

    Ua ma-ʻi au

    I am sick

    Usage

    Basic phrase to express that you are feeling ill

    Grammar Note

    "sick" is maʻi without a macron; "ua" marks resultant state

  2. Aia ka ʻeha ma koʻu poʻo

    A-ia ka ʻe-ha ma ko-ʻu po-ʻo

    I have a headache

    Usage

    Describe a headache to a doctor or caregiver

    Grammar Note

    Pain is ʻeha with the ʻokina; bare "eha" is the pre-1900 orthography and is an error in modern spelling. "aia ka ʻeha" = "there is pain" — an existential construction

  3. Makemake au i kauka

    Ma-ke-ma-ke au i kau-ka

    I need a doctor

    Usage

    Request a doctor when feeling ill or in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    "kauka" is borrowed from English "doctor" — Hawaiian typically renders English "d" as "k"

  4. E kōkua mai iaʻu

    E kō-ku-a mai ia-ʻu

    Please help me

    Usage

    Call for help in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    "kōkua" = "to help"; "mai" is the directional particle meaning motion toward the speaker

  5. He aha kou lāʻau?

    He a-ha kou lā-ʻa-u

    What medicine are you taking?

    Usage

    Ask about someone's medication in a medical context

    Grammar Note

    "lāʻau" originally means "tree/plant" and extended to mean "medicine" — reflecting Hawaiian herbal medicine

  6. Ua palupalu koʻu kino

    U-a pa-lu-pa-lu ko-ʻu ki-no

    My body is weak

    Usage

    Express physical weakness or fatigue

    Grammar Note

    "palupalu" is a reduplicated form (palu + palu) used for emphasis — reduplication is common in Hawaiian

  7. Makemake au e hiamoe

    Ma-ke-ma-ke au e hi-a-mo-e

    I want to rest/sleep

    Usage

    Request rest when tired or unwell

    Grammar Note

    "hiamoe" = "to sleep/rest"; "e" before a verb forms the infinitive in this construction

  8. Aia ka hale lapaʻau ma hea?

    A-ia ka ha-le la-pa-ʻau ma he-a

    Where is the hospital?

    Usage

    Ask for the location of a hospital in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    "hale lapaʻau" means "house of healing" and refers to a hospital

  9. He aha kou manaʻo?

    He a-ha kou ma-na-ʻo

    What is your opinion/diagnosis?

    Usage

    Ask a doctor for their assessment or diagnosis

    Grammar Note

    "manaʻo" is an important Hawaiian word meaning "thought/opinion/belief"

  10. Ua ola au

    U-a o-la au

    I am well / I have recovered

    Usage

    Express that you have recovered or are feeling well

    Grammar Note

    "ola" is a core Hawaiian word meaning "life/health/to be alive/well"; "ua ola" = "I am well/I have recovered"

  11. Hāpai

    Pregnant

    Usage

    Show this first — it changes what medicine and X-rays are safe

  12. Hānō

    Asthma

    Usage

    To declare asthma; hānō also means to wheeze

  13. Maʻi kōpaʻa

    Diabetes

    Usage

    To declare diabetes

  14. Iwi haki

    Broken bone

    Usage

    To report a suspected broken bone

  15. Pōniuniu

    Dizzy

    Usage

    To say you feel dizzy

  16. Kahe koko

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    To report bleeding

  17. Kunu

    Cough

    Usage

    To report a cough

  18. Maneo

    Itchy

    Usage

    To report itching

  19. Heʻe koko

    Menstruation

    Usage

    To say you are menstruating; literally "blood flowing"

  20. ʻInikua olakino

    Health insurance

    Usage

    Show this when asked about health insurance

  21. Hulu koko

    Blood type

    Usage

    Show this when you are asked for your blood type; literally "blood kind"

  22. Hanu paʻa

    Common cold

    Usage

    Show this to say you have a head cold

  23. E kelepona i ke kauka!

    E ke-le-po-na i ke kau-ka

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to call a doctor

    Grammar Note

    The article is "ke" rather than "ka" because Hawaiian uses "ke" before words beginning with k

  24. Ua lola koʻu kino

    Ua lo-la ko-ʻu ki-no

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Used to say your whole body feels heavy or worn out

  25. Ua luaʻi au he mau manawa

    Ua lu-a-ʻi au he mau ma-na-wa

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor you have been vomiting repeatedly

  26. Pono anei au e hoʻomaha?

    Po-no a-nei au e ho-ʻo-ma-ha

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Used after an examination to ask whether you have to rest

  27. Palahī

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    To report diarrhea

  28. Kūkaepaʻa

    Constipation

    Usage

    To report constipation

  29. Kūkae

    Poop

    Usage

    The common word for stool

  30. Mimi

    Pee

    Usage

    The word for urine and also for urinating

  31. Ua palahī au

    Ua pa-la-hī au

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or a pharmacist that you have diarrhea

  32. Ua loaʻa wau i ke kūkaepaʻa

    U-a lo-a-ʻa wau i ke kū-kae-pa-ʻa

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or a pharmacist that you are constipated

  33. Pono au e mimi

    Po-no au e mi-mi

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee

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