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

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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