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

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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