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The earliest Hawaiian word lists

Anderson - 1778    Samwell - 1779    Beresford - 1787    Martinez - 1789    Santeliz es Pablo - 1791    Quimper - 1791    
Lisiansky - 1804    Campbell - 1809    Gaimard/Arago - 1819    Bishop/Ellis - 1825    Botta - 1828    Dumont - 1834    

Manuel Quimper's List
(1791)

Manuel Quimper was master of the Princesa Real, a British ship captured by the Spaniards in 1789. Princesa Real was in Hawaii from March 23 until April 18, when they sailed for Manila, bound for Macao, where the ship was to be returned to the British. Quimper, known also for his discovery and exploration of the Strait of Juan de Fuc, described himself as an American-born Spaniard. He was probably born in Lima, Peru between 1750 and1760.

Although he made brief stops at Moanalua Bay (Oʻahu), Waimea Bay (Kauaʻi), and Paliuli Bay (Niʻihau), it is likely that he collected the word list on Hawaii, where he spent more time. As for his linguistic prowess, "... he was not an educated man. He made many mistakes in grammar and spelling... It will be noted, particularly in the vocabulary of Castilian-Hawaiian words, that Quimper often caught by ear or understood only the last syllable or two of some Hawaiian words. The impossibility of making exact identification and translation of such words is thus readily recognized." (Minson 1952)

adapted from Albert J. Schütz, "Voices of Eden" pp. 37-38.

notes from Minson 1952

click on column heading to sort

#list wordmodern Hawaiianlist glossSpanish
70.AbaruʻawaluEightOcho
145.Aca acahakakāTo quarrelReganar
115.Acaraʻākala*RaspberryLa Sarsamora
*See note on page 23 above for inofrmation on the Hawaiian raspberry.
139.Agattaaha ka ('what...?')WhenQuando
116.Agegea______*El Puelitte
*An Englishmeaning cannot be found for this Spanish wordwhich may have been a colloquial form in Quimper's day.
193.AgiahiHearthEl fogon
69.AgittuʻahikuSevenSiette
47.Aguauiwi ʻaoʻao (ʻaoʻao = 'side')RibsLas Costillas
23.Aguay___SloopLa Balandra [mistake for ā kai 'by the sea'?]
164.Aguneyaku neiTodayOy
71.AibaʻaiwaNineNueve
66.AjaʻahāFourQuatro
34.Ajayhaʻi, hahaʻi or ʻahaʻiLarge jointsLas coyunteras Grandes
175.Ana anaananaA fathomUna braza
147.AnoʻanoʻaiLoveAora
153.Anu o toytoyanu or huʻi huʻiIt is very coldHace mucho frio
177.AnuanauanianiMirrorEl espejo
161.ApopoʻapōpōTomorrowManana
162.Apopo poypoyʻapōpō (? poʻipoʻi)Day after tomorrowManana por la manana
163.Apopoturaʻapōpō ? ahu aIn the afternoonA la tarde
217.Ariaalia ('wait')Leave me or leave itDejame o dexalo
67.ArimaʻalimaFiveCinco
168.Aripe matte(?) makeYou are deadEs muertto
183.ArojaalohaFriendAmigo
184.Arojanuocovaloha nui loaTo greet each other as friendsSaludarse como Amigos
63.AtajiʻakahiOneUno
156.AtetahakakāTo wage warGuerrear
169.Au___HereAqui
150.Au o Caucaoʻai or kaukau (< Chinese 'chowchow')To eatComer
72.Aumi(a) ʻumiTenDiez
68.AunoʻaonoSixSeis
10.Cacamaginekaikamahine ('daughter, girl')WifeMuger propia
196.CapakapaThe mats with which they clothe themselvesLas manttas con que se cubren
182.CucaykūkaeTo defacateObrar
17.CuemacakuʻemakaEyebrowsLas Cejas
127.EʻēYesSi
218.Ea? ʻeā ('isn't that so?')Look or seeOye o mira
197.Eajuhe ʻahuMat or fine matLa estera o Pettatte
143.Eattae ʻakaTo laughReir
61.Eballiuhe waiūBreastsLos Pechos
80.Ebayhe waiFresh waterLa agua dulce
33.Ecuryhe kuʻe limaElbowsLos Codos
189.Ega? ʻekaSouthEl S.
105.Egiaʻohiʻa* ('tomato', ʻōhiʻaʻai 'mountain apple')A kind of appleUn especie de Manzanas
*This is the mountain apple also mentioned by Quimper on page 24 above.
142.Eguee uēTo weepLlorar
111.Ejuahe huaEggsLos Huevos
113.EllaiʻaFishEl Pescado
19.Emattahe makaEyesLos Ojos
22.Enijiuhe nihoTeethLos dientes
14.Epohe poʻoHeadLa Caveza
50.Eraju, Gejuahe laho, he huaTestesLos Genittales
21.Eregeregehe leheleheLipsLos labios
54.ErerueleloTongueLa lengua
29.Erimahe limaArmsLos Brazos
2.ErittyAliʻi iki (Kiaʻāina)GovernorGovernador
64.EruaʻeluaTwoDos
134.Erunae lunaTo ascendSubir
1.EryAliʻi (Mōʻī)KingRey
79.Etayhe kaiSea or salt waterEl Mar or Agua Salada
65.EtoruʻekoluThreeTres
78.EttirihekiliThunderLos truenos
102.Eugihe uhiYamEl name
103.Euruhe ʻulu* ('breadfruit')A kind of fruit called "Rima" in the Marianas IslandsUna especie de fruta que nombran en las Yslas Marianas Rima
*This is the breadfruit.
53.Gea? he ā ('jaw, cheekbone')PalateEl paladar
83.Geahe ʻāGravelCascajo
194.Geajihe ahiFireEl guego
191.Geapa? he apaWestOeste
73.Geauhe aoSkyCielo
76.Geauhe aoCloudsLas Nuves
90.Gebago o tenuhe waʻa or (?)*CanoesLas Canoas
*Tenu may be an attempt to say the English word "canoe."
195.Gebajihe uahiSmokeEl Humo
75.GecuhōkūStarsLas Estrellas
20.Geijiuhe ihuNoseLa Nariz
190.Gejau? he hauEastLeste
27.Genojohe loloBrainEl Cerebro [nono variant of lolo?]
179.GeregerehelehelePathway or roadAnda o Camina
141.Gettue kūGet upLevanttate
144.Geurahe hulaTo sing or danceCanttar or bailar
77.GouaHe uaLightningLos Relampagos
174.GuaimeaWaimea*RiverRio
*A limited meaning for the word river. Quimper lay at Waimea on Kauai where this name is used for the town, bay, and river.
95.GuajiHawaiʻiName of the principal islandNombres de la Isla Principal
120.GuaytemoaʻO wai kou inoaWhat is your name?Como te llamas
98.Haaraʻaʻala ('sweet smelling')MuskmelonEl Melon
122.Itty o piquininiiki or pīkanele (& pikanini < Eng. slang)Small thingCosa chica
178.Jauhao*Iron or nailsEl fierro o Clavos
*Kamakau, History of Hawaii, p. 43 contains the Hawaiian word for iron in context.
130.JoehoʻiGo quicklyAnda vette
62.JovhouPerspirationEl sudor
200.Kara KacoaKealakekuaBay where I anchored and where they killed Captain CookBahia donde estubo fondrado y mataron el Capitan Cook
74.LalāSunEl Sol
16.Laelae ('forehead')Face (forehead)La frente
15.LaguojolauohoHairEl pelo
18.LiligilihilihiEyelashesLas Pestanas
114.MacaumakauFishhookEl Anzuelo
56.MajamahaTemplesLas sienes
60.Manaba? manawa ('feelings, seat of emotions')StomachEl Estomago
30.ManamanamanamanaFingersLos Dedos
110.ManumanuAll kinds of birdsToda especie de Ave
117.Maomaʻo ('green')Green paintLa Pintura verde
152.MaonamaʻonaI have eaten wellHe comido bien
198.MarumaluProtectionEl Tamarrabo
208.Maruna___ThiefLadron
187.Matane o Guinemakani or kuine*WindEl Viento
*"Kuine" is probably another loan word, an attempt to say "wind."
167.Materoamake loaThey kill meMe Mattan
124.Mattana o Juaymakana or kūʻaiTo favor with a gift or barterRegalar o cambiar
166.MattaumakaʻuI am afraidTengo Miedo
199.MayoremahioleHelmet or feather hatEl morrion o turbante de plumas
131.MaytaymaikaʻiGoodBueno
112.MellamaiʻaPlantainsLos Plantanos
32.MelloumaiʻaoNailsLas Unas
31.Menea? meneArmpitsLos Sobacos ['folded']
11.MetuamakuaUncleTio
6.MetuaginemakuahineMotherMadre
5.Metuatanemakua kāneFatherPadre
181.MimimimiTo urinateOrinar
108.MoamoaHenLa Gallina
192.Moe o Aripimoe or (?)*To SleepDormir
*"Aripi" may be another loan word, an attempt to say "sleepy."
96.MoguiMauiAnother northern one which forms a channel with HawaiiOtra mas N. que forma canal con la de Guaji
209.MomimomiPearl and its shellPerla y su Concha
89.Motu o Llepemoku or (?)*VesselLa Embarcacion
*Here the Hawaiina word for island, moku, is used for a ship. Llepe may have been an attempt to say "ship"
146.Namunamunamunamu ('mumble, babble')To speakHablar
165.Nana o Mirimirinānā or (? milimili)To seeVer
109.Nenenēnē* ('goose')DuckLos Pattos
*This is the nearly extinct Hawaiian goose or wild duck, the nene...
106.NiuniuCoconutLos cocos
155.Nojumarienoho malieBe quietCalla la boca
118.Noni? noni ('k.o. yellow fruit')RedLa Encarnada
123.NunuinunuiLarge thingCosa grande
215.Obaya o Ydadowaho or I laloCome down belowBaja abajo
59.OcoreʻōkoleBacksidesEl Estantino
129.OeʻoeYouTu
128.Ohau or Novʻo au or noʻuIYo
82.OneoneSandLa Arena
40.OpuʻōpūAbdomenLa Barriga
126.OreʻoleNoNo
210.Orejoʻo leho ('cowrie')SnailCaracol
42.Orojayʻolo ʻūhāThighsLos Muslos
44.Orojay, Geybi(?), he iwi ('bone')LegsLas Piernas
45.OrooroʻoloʻoloCalvesLas Pantorrillas
138.Oxeao heaWhere is it?Adonde esta
219.PagipahiKnifeEl Cuchilla
176.PagillawahieFirewoodLena
41.PapacorepāpākoleButtocksLas Nalgas
52.Papanepanepanipani*CopulationLa Generacion
*It will be recalled that on page 76 above Quimper made reference to this word as the one used by the Hawaiians to say Spain.
24.PaparinepapālinaCheeksLos Cachettes
81.Patay or Vpurejopaʻakai or (?)SaltLa Sal
158.PaupauIt is finishedSe acabo
172.Paurapauka*The powderLa polvora
*This is probably another loan word taken from the English word "powder."
207.PeapeʻaSail of a vesselVela de una Envarcacion
216.PepegepepehiTo punishCastigar
25.PepellaupepeiaoEarsLas Orejas
135.Pi______Yn
133.Pimaypiʻi mai ('come up')Come hereVen aca
48.PitopikoNavalEl Ombligo
159.PopōNightNoche
84.PojattopōhakuStonesLas Piedras
28.PojivipoʻohiwiShouldersLos Hombres
160.Porerepō ʻeleʻeleDark nightNoche obscura
99.Poroquea o Vguarapuʻukōlea, ʻualaSweet PotatoesLos Camotes
151.PororypōloliI am hungryTengo hambre
170.Pupū*FirearmEl arma de fuego
*Other Hawaiian words for gun can be found in Kamakau, History of Hawaii, p. 45.
107.Pua o Alorinapuaʻa or (?)HogsLos Puercos
26.Puhaypūʻāʻī ('Adam's apple')NeckEl Pescuezo ['Adam's apple']
55.Puhaypūʻāʻī ('Adam's apple' puʻu = 'throat', ʻāʻī = 'neck')ThroatEl Garguero o Gargantta
148.Punegerepunahele ('favor, favorite')I love youTe quiero
125.Punepune o Abarebarepunipuni or walewaleLiarEmbustero
35.PupupuʻupuʻuSmall jointsLas Pequenas
36.Purimapūlima or puʻu lima ('wrist, knuckles, fist')HandsLas Manos
57.QuomokuamoʻoSpineEl Espinazo
93.RaulaʻauAll kinds of woodToda especie de palo
149.rau raio o Guaraulau or ua lauMuchMucho
211.RoygilōʻihiLongLargo
206.Tacacue___Ringworm kind of leprosyEmeines espicie de Lepra
7.TainakainaBrotherHermano
85.Tainua or Puarakai nuʻa or pūʻali ('isthmus')Harbor or bayEl Puertto o Ensenada
214.Tairuakai loa ('very much?')Large populationPoblacion grande
8.TaitainakaikainaYounger BrotherHermano Menor
4.TajunakahunaPriest to their idolsSacerdote de sus Ydoles
188.Tamutu___North windViento N.
46.TapuaykapuaʻiFeetLos Pies
91.Tapuri tenukahuli ? kenuThe canoe overturnedSe bolteo la Canoa
201.TaratatuaKailuaResidence of the principal king Kamehameha and the bay where I have anchored with the sloopResidencia del Principal Ery Amejameja y Ensenada a donde estube fondeado con la Balandra
100.TarokaloAnother root somewhat similar to the sweet potatoeOtra Raiz algo semejante al camote
205.Taty______La Poqueria
213.Tauna o Taraibakahuna or kālai waʻa*CarpenterEl carpintero
*Kahuna meant anyone skilled in some particular calling, a kalai waʻa was a skilled builder of canoes.
87.TaurakaulaRope or thin cordageGuimdaresa o Cavo delgado
12.TeitekeikiSonHijo
173.Temotumapapake moku ma papa*Name of a shoal to the west of the island of Niihau according to the IndiansNombres de un bajo que esta al Queste de la Ysla de Omijau segun noticia de los Yndios
*Cook, Voyage to the Pacific, Vol. II, p. 222 mentions this shoal...
88.Tenene___AnchorEl ancla
49.Teureke ulePenisEl Miembro del Hombre
92.TirakiaTimber or masts of a vesselEl Palo o Palos de una Embara Embarcacion
104.TokōSugar caneLa cana dulce
9.ToaginekuahineSisterHermana
51.TogekoheWoman's GenitalsLa Naturaleza de la Muger
202.TojanaKohala*Name of the first bay where I anchoredNombre de la Primera Ensenada en donde estube fondeado
*Quimper probably wrote the vocabulary several months after his visit to Hawaii and in doing so confused the true name of Kawaihae Bay with the district of Kohala in whyich it is situated.
154.Tojana o Jojanaka hana or hahanaIt is very warmHace mucho calor
3.Tojoa? ko koa (kāpena)*CaptainCapitan
*Kapena is a "loan" word based on the English word "captain." A loan word is one taken into Hawaiian from another language and retaining as closely as possible its original sound and meaning.
171.Toma___The shotLas Balas
204.Tona y NapuKona and Nāpoʻopoʻo*Name of two districts which lie to the north of itNombre de dos parttidos que se hallan al N. de este
*The names Kona and Napoopoo belong more properly to the region of Kailua Bay, which has been identified as the second anchorage of Quimper.
185.Toray___Neat or cleanLaha o limpia
119.Torey___*YellowLa Amarilla
*It is possible that the word given to Quimper for yellow was the name of the plant from which yellow dye was procured; this plant cannot be positively identified.
180.ToykoʻiAxe or hatchetLa Hacha o Hazuela
86.Tropika lopi* ('thread')HawserEl Cable
*Probably another loan word, an attempt by the Hawaiians to say the English word "rope".
39.Tuakua ('back')SideEl Costado
38.Tuomov? kuamoʻo ('spine')ShouldersLas Espaldas
43.TurykuliKneesLas Rodillas
101.TykīAnother edible rootOtra Raiz dulce
203.UlpaʻūpāScissorsLas tixeras
186.Unajay___Cracked or brokenRajado o Rotto
37.VmavmaumaumaChestEl Pecho
58.VmivmiʻumiʻumiBeardLos Pelos de la Barba
13.Vtuʻuku or ʻuʻuku ('small, tiny')BoyMuchacho
157.Xare or Pueteahale or ? puekeaA house or hutUna casa o Jacalon
132.YnoʻinoBadMalo
121.YnoainoaMy name isMe nombre o se nombra
140.Ynojoe nohoSeat yourselfSienttate
97.Ypo o Ypo Caucauupu or ipo kaukauEating or water calabash WatermelonLa Calabaza de comer Puecara Las Sandias
212.Yraroi lalo ('down, under')Keep itGuardalo
136.Ytivauʻike wauI understand youTe entiendo
137.YtteʻikeYou understand meMe enttiendes
94.Yutai ukaLandLa Tierra

REFERENCES

Quimper, Manuel (Manuel Quimper Benítez del Pino). 1822. Islas de Sandwich. Descripcion sucinta de este Archipiélago, Nombre que les Dió su Célebre Descubridor el Captain Cook, reconocidas por el teniente de fragata de la armada nacional. Madrid: E. Aguado. [7], 8–32 pp. [Word list, pp. 28–31. See MINSON 1952 for an analysis of this work.]

Minson, William Harvey. 1952. The Hawaiian Journal of Manuel Quimper. University of Hawaiʻi M. A. thesis. iii, 114 ll.

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