updated: 2/27/2026
The earliest Hawaiian word lists
Esteban José Martinez's List
(1789)
In 1789, Spain attempted to assert its authority over settlement and trade on the Pacific coast of North America by seizing two English vessels. Esteban José Martinez [1742-1798], second pilot on the Santiago, was directly involved in this "Nootka Controversy", and became captain of one of the seized ships, the Princess Royal, renamed the Princesa Real. He collected his vocabulary during his return voyage from Nootka Sound, explaining in his diary,This vocabulary comes from the Indian [Hawaiian] whom I have on board named José Mariano (alias) Matutaray. It is apparent in him that the natives of those islands use very few letters of the alphabet. His pronunciation is facile and they have many terms comparable to those of the language of the islands of Tahiti.The Hawaiian "Matutaray" had been taken prisoner on the other seized ship, the Argonaut, and, judging from the consistent use of t and r on the word list (rather than k and l), he probably came from Kauaʻi or Niʻihau. adapted from Albert J. Schütz, "Voices of Eden" pp. 36-37, and A. Grove Day, "An Early Hawaiian Vocabulary" |
analyzed and annotated by Edgar Knowlton
click on column heading to sort
| # | list word | modern Hawaiian | list gloss | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198. | Nana | (nānā 'look at, see') | where to? | A dónde |
| 240. | Pupú | pūpū | beads | Abalorios |
| 85. | Ju-ay | huʻe ('uncover, expose, open') | open | Abre |
| 247. | Jininay | (hina moe 'to lie down to sleep') | lie down, go to bed | Acostarse |
| 213. | Jepu | hopu | catch, grab | Agarra |
| 157. | Jeguay | he wai | fresh water | Agua dulce |
| 253. | Omao-mao | ʻōmaʻomaʻo ('green') | yellow | Amarillo |
| 184. | Aroja | aloha ('to love') | friend | Amigo |
| 208. | Jerenone | hele none ('go slow') | walk, go | Anda |
| 206. | Jeripera | hele pēlā | go away | Anda vete |
| 209. | Joro | holo ('fleet, fast') | quickly | Apriesa |
| 194. | Ra-au | lāʻau | trees | Arboles |
| 99. | Titoo | kīkoʻo ('chord of an arc, bent bow') | arc, bow | Arco |
| 72. | Onetea | one kea ('white sand') | fine sand | Arenilla |
| 34. | Ynéginey | i nehinei | yesterday | Ayer |
| 252. | Uri-uri | uliuli | blue | Azul |
| 109. | Pojatu | pōhaku ('rock, stone') | bullet, canon ball | Bala |
| 175. | Tefora | koholā | whale | Ballena |
| 126. | Tanú | (kanu 'to plant') | banana | Banana |
| 122. | Ti-ji | (kihi 'outside corner') | bench | Banco |
| 19. | Aguay | ʻauwae | chin | Barba [barbila] |
| 176. | Aru-aru | (ʻaluʻalu 'skin, rind') | whalebone | Barba de ballena |
| 166. | Ynu | inu | to drink | Beber |
| 250. | Ata-ata | akaaka ('clear, shining, bright') | white | Blanco |
| 15. | Guaja | waha | mouth | Boca |
| 243. | Nani | nani | beautiful or precious | Bonito o precioso |
| 185. | Maytay | maikaʻi | good | Bueno |
| 6. | Raóbojo | lauoho | hair of the head | Cabello o pelo |
| 5. | Tepó | ke poʻo | head | Cabeza |
| 69. | Ypú | ipu ('vessel, container') | chest or trunk | Caja o baúl |
| 81. | Aguajia | ʻāwela | hot | Caliente |
| 246. | Gueri-gueri | kulikuli | be silent | Calla |
| 80. | Mejana | mehana ('warmth') | heat | Calor |
| 120. | Piritea | ___ | bed | Cama |
| 129. | Jeto | he kō | sweet cane (sugar cane) | Caña dulc e |
| 2. | Y ó | ʻiʻo | flesh, meat | Carne |
| 12. | Paparina | papālina | cheek | Carrillo |
| 119. | Jare | hale | house | Casa |
| 269. | Tumamajá | (ʻumi kumamāhā) | fourteen | Catorce |
| 8. | Tuamata | kuʻemaka | eyebrow | Cejas |
| 86. | Papani | papani ('shut off, block') | close | Cierra |
| 260. | Arima | ʻalima | five | Cinco |
| 235. | Tereague | keleawe | copper | Cobre |
| 132. | Nio | niu | coconuts | Cocos |
| 165. | Ay | ʻai | to eat | Comer |
| 178. | Ninau | (nīnau 'ask') | what do you call this? | Cómo se llama esto |
| 244. | Yna-yna | inaina ('anger, wrath, rage') | angry or brave | Corajudo o enfadado |
| 110. | Tahura | kaula | string or rope | Cordel o cuerda |
| 210. | Tutuní | kūkini ('runner') | run | Corre |
| 105. | O-oti | ʻoʻoki | to cut | Cortar |
| 134. | Aba | ʻawa ('kava') | any liquor | Cualquier licor |
| 158. | Guaytaji | waikahe ('stream') | any river | Cualquier rio |
| 259. | Ajá | ʻahā | four | Cuatro |
| 103. | Pajoa | pāhoa ('short dagger') | knife | Cuchillo |
| 1. | Aru aru | ʻaluʻalu | body | Cuerpo |
| 221. | Nonoy | nonoi ('ask for something, request') | give me | Dame |
| 179. | Manaro | (mānalo 'sweet water, tasty') | give me more | Dame más |
| 222. | Nonoy-ay | nonoi ʻai | feed me, give me food | Dame qué comer |
| 116. | Jura | hula | dance or dancing | Danza o baile |
| 114. | Tuy-tuy | kuʻikuʻi | give blows (to box) | Dar de golpes |
| 200. | Mao | ma ʻō ('over there') | on this side | De este lado |
| 48. | Nimanuy | lima nui | thumb | Dedo pulgar |
| 146. | Jo-ite-ita | hōʻikeʻike ('display, exhibit') | let me see, show me | Déjame ver. |
| 201. | Mane | maʻaneʻi ('here') | on the other side | Del otro lado |
| 31. | Marcemarrma | mālamalama ('light') | day | Dia |
| 274. | Tumamay-ua | (ʻumi kumamāiwa) | nineteen | Diecinueve |
| 273. | Tumamarité | (ʻumi kumamāwalu) | eighteen | Dieciocho |
| 271. | Tumamaono | (ʻumi kumamāono) | sixteen | Dieciséis |
| 272. | Tumamajitu | (ʻumi kumamāhiku) | seventeen | Diecisiete |
| 16. | Nijo | niho | teeth | Dientes |
| 265. | Humi | ʻumi | ten | Diez |
| 101. | Rere | lele ('fly, sail through the air') | shoot an arrow | Disparar la flecha |
| 267. | Tumamarua | (ʻumi kumamālua) | twelve | Doce |
| 195. | Moe | moe | to sleep | Dormir |
| 257. | Arua | ʻalua | two | Dos |
| 226. | Otomo | ʻōkomo ('insert') | finger ring | El anillo del dedo |
| 136. | Joe | hoe | paddle | El canalete |
| 50. | Gua hina | (manamana) waena | middle finger | El dedo de enmedio |
| 51. | Turoto | (kūloko 'inside') | ring finger | El dedo del anillo |
| 49. | Pirimay | (lima kuhi) | index finger | El dedo indice |
| 52. | Rimayti | lima iki | little finger | El dedo pequeño |
| 39. | Pupuji | pupuhi ('burn') | fire | El fuego |
| 168. | Móa | moa | rooster | El gallo |
| 82. | Jeuguaji | he uahi | smoke | El humo |
| 130. | Tamau | kāmau ('small taro or sweet potato') | ___ | El melón |
| 54. | Huma-huma | umauma | chest | El pecho |
| 41. | Puay | pūʻāʻī ('Adam's apple') | neck | El pescuezo |
| 60. | Tapuay | kapuaʻi | foot | El pie |
| 47. | Jatua | ke kua ('back') | the back of the same (hands) | El revés de dicha |
| 28. | Jera | ke lā | the sun | El sol |
| 29. | Jeraputa | ke lā puka | the sun comes out | El sol sale |
| 30. | Jeratomo | ke lā komo ('sinks') | the sun sets | El sol se pone |
| 40. | Matani | makani | wind | El viento |
| 254. | Ura-ura | ʻulaʻula | red | Encarnado |
| 229. | Eati | ʻaki ('sharp recurring pain') | sick | Enfermo |
| 113. | Aju-ura | ʻahu ʻula | feather cape | Esclavina de pluma |
| 230. | Tatau | kākau | write | Escribir |
| 236. | Toymeti | koʻi meki ('iron adze') | iron | Fierro |
| 100. | Pana | pana | arrow | Flecha |
| 7. | Jeray | he lae | forehead | Frente |
| 79. | Totoy | koʻekoʻe | cold | Frio |
| 107. | Jepu | he pū | gun or musket | Fusil o escopeta |
| 242. | Roro-giri | ___ | large | Grande |
| 245. | Tagea | kāhea ('to call, cry out, invoke, greet') | speak | Habla |
| 26. | Taytu-hana | kaikuaʻana ('older same-sex sibling') | sister | Hermana |
| 25. | Tayta-hinu | kaikaina ('younger same-sex sibling') | brother | Hermano |
| 24. | Mopuna | (moʻopuna 'grandchild') | daughter | Hija |
| 23. | Majana | (māhana 'twins') | son | Hijo |
| 78. | Ajo | aho ('line, cord') | thread | Hilo |
| 62. | Tanata | kanaka | man | Hombre |
| 35. | Anó | ao ('light, day') | today | Hoy |
| 56. | Opú | ʻōpū | belly | La barriga |
| 55. | Tuomó | kuamoʻo ('backbone, spine') | back | La espalda |
| 169. | Tinana | kīnana | hen | La gallina |
| 96. | Magina | mahina | moon | La luna |
| 98. | Tutagi Magina | Kūkahi mahina (Kūkahi '3rd day of the month') | the moon sets | La luna se pone |
| 97. | Joata Magina | Hoaka mahina (Hoaka '2nd day of the month') | the moon rises | La luna se sale |
| 75. | Jeagi | he ahi ('fire') | the light of the candle | La luz de una vela |
| 38. | Jetay | ke kai | the sea | La mar |
| 32. | Ajiajé | ahiahi ('evening') | night | La noche |
| 46. | Taguarima | ka poho lima | the palm of the same (hands) | La palma de dicha |
| 59. | Oro-oro | ʻoloʻolo (wāwae 'calf of the leg') | leg | La pierna |
| 131. | Taro | (kalo 'taro') | watermelon | La sandía |
| 139. | Oputete | ___ | the sail of a ship | La vela de navio |
| 14. | Reje-reje | lehelehe | lips | Labios |
| 187. | Juna | (hūnā 'hide, conceal') | thief | Ladrón |
| 102. | Pajo | paheʻe | lance, spear | Lanza |
| 214. | Joy-joy | hoʻihoʻi ('return, give back') | let go | Larga |
| 20. | Humi-humi | ʻumiʻumi | beard | Las barbas del hombre |
| 27. | Jejatu | he hōkū | the stars | Las estrellas |
| 45. | Peaji | peʻahi ('the open hand') | hands | Las manos |
| 53. | Mayao | maiʻao | nails | Las uñas |
| 202. | Joroy | holoi | to wash | Lavar |
| 18. | Jerero | ke lelo | tongue | Lengua |
| 219. | Tu-u | kū ('stand, erect, standing') | get up | Levántate |
| 212. | Mama | māmā | light (not heavy) | Ligero |
| 156. | Je-ú-a | he ua | rain | Llover |
| 148. | Naná | nānā ('see') | I see it | Lo veo |
| 43. | Rima-rima | limalima | arms | Los brazos |
| 44. | Tue-tue | kuʻekuʻe | elbows | Los codos |
| 61. | Taguamo | ___ | toes | Los dedos del pie |
| 42. | Pojive | poʻohiwi | shoulders | Los hombros |
| 57. | Huja | ʻūhā | thighs | Los muslos |
| 58. | Turi-turi | kulikuli | knees | Los rodillas |
| 142. | Gu-ajie | wahie ('firewood') | wood, in general | Madera en general |
| 22. | Matuagine | makuahine | mother | Madre |
| 186. | Punipuni | punipuni ('to lie') | bad | Malo |
| 36. | Abobo | ʻapōpō | tomorrow | Mañana |
| 112. | Ujimay | uhi moe ('bed spread') | feather cloak | Manto de pluma |
| 106. | O-o | ʻōʻō (' to pierce, lance, poke') | to kill or wound | Matar o herir |
| 121. | Papanani | papa ʻaina | table | Mesa |
| 147. | Aruri | ʻāluli ('incline the head') | sight | Mira |
| 193. | Tuagivi | kuahiwi | mountains | Montes |
| 225. | Nanajo | nanahu | bite | Morder |
| 111. | Majiori | mahiole | feather helmet | Morrión de pluma |
| 67. | Tahitimajine | keikimahine | girl | Muchacha |
| 66. | Tahiti | keiki | boy | Muchacho |
| 180. | Nuy nuy | nui nui | much, a lot | Mucho |
| 17. | Jetui | ke kuʻi | molar | Muelas |
| 63. | Guajine | wahine | woman | Mujer |
| 127. | Jeuji | he uhi | yam | Ñame |
| 11. | Jeyju | he ihu | nose | Narices |
| 104. | Paji | pahi ('knife') | folding knife, razor | Navaja |
| 255. | Ere-ere | ʻeleʻele | black | Negro |
| 155. | Je-o-ju | he ʻohu ('fog, mist, cloud on a mountain') | snow | Nieve |
| 234. | Aori | ʻaʻole | no | No |
| 149. | Aureyti | ʻaʻole ʻike | I don't see it | No lo veo |
| 239. | A-oreyte | ʻaʻole ʻike ('I don't know') | I don't understand you | No te entiendo |
| 205. | Joy-may | e hoʻi mai ('come back') | don't go away | No te vayas |
| 33. | Poere | pōʻele | dark night | Noche oscura |
| 154. | Tejau | ke ao | clouds | Nubes |
| 264. | Ay-ua | ʻaiwa | nine | Nueve |
| 263. | Arite | (ʻawalu) | eight | Ocho |
| 10. | Onojó | ʻōnohi | eyeball | Ojos |
| 224. | Joni | honi ('to smell, sniff') | smell or odor | Oler u olor |
| 266. | Tumamataji | (ʻumi kumamākahi) | eleven | Once |
| 13. | Popoyao | pepeiao | ears | Orejas |
| 204. | Jorono | hoʻolono | hear | Oye |
| 21. | Mamatani | makuakāne | father | Padre |
| 199. | Manu | manu | birds in general | Pájaros en general |
| 133. | U-ara | ʻuala ('sweet potato') | potatoes | Papas |
| 87. | Teateo | keʻokeʻo ('white') | paper | Papel |
| 123. | Nené | nēnē ('Hawaiian goose') | duck | Pato |
| 241. | Poctore | pōkole ('short, brief') | small | Pequeño |
| 211. | Tuamaja | kaumaha | heavy | Pesado |
| 159. | Jeya | he iʻa | fish in general | Pescado en general |
| 9. | Riji-rigi | lihilihi | eyelash, eyelid | Pestañas |
| 237. | Rapa-rapa | (lapa 'blade, as of a knife') | silver or white metal | Plata o metal blanco |
| 125. | Maya | maiʻa | plantain, banana | Plátanos |
| 181. | Yti-yti | iki iki | a little | Poco |
| 108. | Onepajú | one pahu ('sand' + 'box') | powder | Pólvora |
| 217. | Uji | uhi ('to cover, spread over, engulf') | put in | Póntelo [poner] |
| 173. | Tuy | ___ | what are you doing? | Qué haces |
| 270. | Tumamarima | (ʻumi kumamālima) | fifteen | Quince |
| 218. | U-eje | wehe ('open, untie, uncover') | take off | Quítatelo [quitar] |
| 177. | Ata | ʻaka | laugh | Reir |
| 118. | Jeu-hira | he uila | lightning | Relámpago |
| 128. | Uru | (ʻulu 'breadfruit') | ___ | Rima |
| 216. | Jajao | hahau ('to strike, hit, whip, beat') | break | Rómpelo [romper] |
| 71. | Lepo | lepo ('dirt, earth') | sandbox (for blotting ink) | Salvadera |
| 3. | Toto | koko | blood | Sangre |
| 261. | ono | ʻaono | six | Seis |
| 233. | Aje | āhē | yes | Sí |
| 220. | Nojo | noho | sit down | Siéntate |
| 262. | Ajitu | ʻahiku | seven | Siete |
| 68. | Papanojo | papa noho ('bench') | chair | Silla |
| 4. | Omoti | ___ | hat | Sombrero |
| 37. | Yuta | i uka ('to inland') | land | Tierra |
| 70. | Jamama | (hāmama 'open') | inkwell | Tintero |
| 215. | Tiora | kiola ('throw') | throw it out | Tíralo [tírar] |
| 189. | Tataja | kakaha ('scratch, mark, cut') | draw a line | Tirar una línea |
| 196. | Rague | lawe ('take') | take this | Toma esto |
| 174. | Jana | hana | work | Trabajar |
| 268. | Tumamakolu | (ʻumi kumamākolu) | thirteen | Trece |
| 285. | Tana-humi | (kanakolu) | thirty | Treinta |
| 258. | Atoru | ʻakolu | three | Tres |
| 117. | Jatiri | hekili | thunder | Trueno |
| 182. | O-au | ʻo wau ('I') | you | Tú |
| 160. | Matao | makau | fish hook | Un anzuelo |
| 249. | Tau-u-hira | ___ | a cane | Un bastón de mano |
| 95. | Juo-ay | hue wai | gourd, water pitcher | Un bule |
| 73. | Ypututuy | ipukukui | candlestick | Un candelero |
| 93. | Toyti-pi | ___ | brush | Un cepillo |
| 162. | Jejou | he hao ('iron, general name for metal tools') | iron nail | Un clavo de fierro |
| 228. | Mamay | mamae | pain | Un dolor |
| 92. | Jonoy | ___ | chisel | Un escopio |
| 248. | Ani-ani | aniani | mirror | Un espejo |
| 190. | Jinu-jinu | hinuhinu ('bright, glossy, shining') | a lantern for light | Un farol para la luz |
| 151. | Mú | mūʻā ('bottle-necked gourd') | flask, bottle | Un frasco |
| 150. | Taray | kālai ('to carve, cut, hew') | axe | Un hacha |
| 170. | Jejua | he hua | egg | Un huevo |
| 223. | Jey ri | he iwi | bone | Un huevo [hueso] |
| 203. | Jeri | he aliʻi | chief or captain | Un jefe o capitán |
| 94. | Amana | hāmale | hammer | Un martillo |
| 232. | Nanupata | (nalo paka 'tick, ensign fly') | mosquito | Un mosquito |
| 145. | Pepeji | pepehi ('to kill') | a dead person | Un muerto |
| 137. | Tiapea | kia peʻa ('mast' + 'sail') | canoe mast | Un palo de canoa |
| 124. | Jemanu | he manu ('a bird') | a pigeon | Un palomo |
| 171. | Yrio | ʻīlio | dog | Un perro |
| 144. | Moena | moena | any sort of mat | Un petate cualquiera |
| 90. | Jepa | he pā | a plate or pan | Un plato o cazuela |
| 167. | Pua | puaʻa | pig | Un puerco |
| 153. | Anapa | (ʻanapa 'shine, sparkle') | glass, tumbler | Un vaso |
| 77. | Tuy | kui | needle | Una aguja |
| 191. | Jajao | (hahao 'insert, put in') | a bag, purse | Una bolsa |
| 115. | Memeri | memele ('sing') | song | Una canción |
| 135. | Tautaji | kaukahi ('canoe with a single outrigger') | canoe | Una canoa |
| 84. | Jo-uhire | (hōʻuwī 'twist') | lock | Una cerradura |
| 227. | O-ata | ___ | any sort of shell | Una concha cualquiera |
| 141. | Jemo o | he moʻo ('a lizard') | a snake | Una culebra |
| 138. | Motu | moku | vessel, ship | Una embarcación |
| 152. | Ju-e-ja-ore | hue haole ('gourd, flask' + 'foreign') | small bottle, vial | Una limeta |
| 83. | Poay | (pōʻai 'circle') | key | Una llave |
| 231. | Erenure | (ʻelelū 'cockroach') | a fly | Una mosca |
| 89. | Tuono | (kūʻono 'inside corner') | jar, pot | Una olla |
| 192. | Je-aa | he ʻaʻa ('cloth') | handkerchief, scarf | Una pañuelo |
| 172. | Yriofine | ʻīlio wahine | female dog | Una perra |
| 143. | Pojatu | pōhaku | stone | Una piedra |
| 88. | Jurumano | hulu manu | feather (pen) | Una pluma |
| 163. | Jeu-jay | he uhaʻi ('covering for door opening') | door | Una puerta |
| 161. | Upena | ʻupena | fish net | Una red de pescar |
| 188. | Tuji | ___ | ruler to draw lines | Una regla de lelinear |
| 91. | Oti-oti | ʻokiʻoki ('cut, prune') | a carpenter's saw | Una sierra de carpintero |
| 74. | Tutuy | kukui ('lamp') | candle | Una vela |
| 76. | Upa | ʻupā | scissors | Unas tijeras |
| 256. | Ataji | ʻakahi | one | Uno |
| 275. | Tumamahumi | (ʻiwakalua) | twenty | Veinte |
| 280. | Tanarima | (ʻiwakalua kumalima) | twenty-five | Veinticinco |
| 279. | Tanaja | (ʻiwakalua kumahā) | twenty-four | Veinticuatro |
| 277. | Tanarua | (ʻiwakalua kumalua) | twenty-two | Veintidós |
| 284. | Tanayua | (ʻiwakalua kumaiwa) | twenty-eight | Veintinueve |
| 283. | Tanarite | (ʻiwakalua kumawalu) | twenty-eight | Veintiocho |
| 281. | Tanaono | (ʻiwakalua kumaono) | twenty-six | Veintiséis |
| 282. | Tanajitu | (ʻiwakalua kumahiku) | twenty-seven | Veintisiete |
| 278. | Tanatoru | (ʻiwakalua kumakolu) | twenty-three | Veintitrés |
| 276. | Tanatahi | (ʻiwakalua kumakahi) | twenty-one | Veintiuno |
| 207. | Pimay | piʻi mai | come here | Ven acá |
| 164. | Yputa | ʻīpuka ('door, opening in wall') | window | Ventana |
| 251. | Onena-nena | ʻōlenalena ('yellow') | green | Verde |
| 65. | Ruagine | luahine | old woman | Vieja |
| 64. | Heremature | ʻelemakule | old man | Viejo |
| 197. | Joaguy | hāʻawi ('give') | give it to me | Vuélvemelo |
| 183. | O-oe | ʻo ʻoe ('you') | I | Yo |
| 238. | Pau | pau ('finished, consumed') | I don't have | Yo no tengo |
| 140. | Tajuri | kahuli ('overturn, capsize') | to sink | Zozobrar |
REFERENCES
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