Shopping

1. ʻEhia ke kumu kūʻai o kēia?

   ʻE-hia ke ku-mu kū-ʻai o kē-ia

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Essential phrase to ask the price of any item

   Grammar Note

   o marks possession; kumu kūʻai literally means "source of trade"

2. Piʻi nui ke kumukūʻai.

   Pi-ʻi nu-i ke ku-mu-kū-ʻai

   The price is too high.

   Usage

   Used to indicate that something is too expensive

   Grammar Note

   piʻi means to rise; nui means big/much, together expressing high price

3. Hiki ke hoʻēmi i ke kumukūʻai?

   Hi-ki ke ho-ʻē-mi i ke ku-mu-kū-ʻai

   Can you lower the price?

   Usage

   Used to negotiate a discount on the price

   Grammar Note

   hiki is a modal verb meaning "can" or "it is possible" placed at the front

4. E kūʻai au i kēia.

   E kū-ʻai au i kē-ia

   I will buy this.

   Usage

   Used to tell the seller you have decided to buy the item

   Grammar Note

   kūʻai can mean to buy or sell; context determines the meaning

5. Nānā wale nō au.

   Nā-nā wa-le nō au

   I am just looking.

   Usage

   Used when browsing in a shop without intending to buy

   Grammar Note

   wale nō follows the verb to mean "just" or "merely"

6. Aia i hea ka hale kūʻai?

   A-ia i hea ka ha-le kū-ʻai

   Where is the shop?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of a store or shop

   Grammar Note

   hale kūʻai means "selling house" — the Hawaiian word for shop

7. He mea makana kēia.

   He me-a ma-ka-na kē-ia

   This is a souvenir / gift.

   Usage

   Use when selecting or giving a souvenir or gift

   Grammar Note

   makana means gift; gift-giving is an important part of Hawaiian culture

8. Loaʻa anei kekahi nui ʻē aʻe o kēia?

   Lo-aʻa a-nei ke-ka-hi nu-i ʻē a-ʻe o kē-ia?

   Is there another size of this?

   Usage

   Ask if another size of an item is available

   Grammar Note

   nui means size/big; kekahi ʻē aʻe means "another, a different one"

9. Hiki ke wahi i kēia mea?

   Hi-ki ke wa-hi i kē-ia me-a

   Can you wrap this?

   Usage

   Request gift wrapping for a purchased item

   Grammar Note

   wahi means both "to wrap" and "place" in Hawaiian

10. Hiki iaʻu ke hoʻihoʻi i kēia?

    Hi-ki ia-ʻu ke ho-ʻi-ho-ʻi i kē-ia

    Can I return this?

    Usage

    Ask whether you can return a purchased item

    Grammar Note

    hoʻihoʻi is reduplicated from hoʻi meaning to return or go back

11. ʻAʻole au makemake i ka palapala hoʻokaʻa.

    ʻA-ʻo-le au ma-ke-ma-ke i ka pa-la-pa-la ho-ʻo-ka-ʻa

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Used to decline a receipt when it is offered

    Grammar Note

    ʻAʻole is the negator and precedes the subject. Pukui & Elbert gloss palapala hoʻokaʻa as "Receipt, as for paying a bill"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages