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Learn Hawaiian

Thirteen letters, verb-first sentences and the sounds that make place names right.

Free to start. Built from a single prompt. No credit card.

Hawaiian, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is a Polynesian language and an official language of the State of Hawaiʻi. Its alphabet has only 13 letters: five vowels, seven consonants and the ʻokina, a glottal stop that changes meaning. The kahakō, a line over a vowel, marks length, and every syllable ends in a vowel. Sentences usually start with the verb, using markers like ua for completed actions. Revitalized through immersion schools after decades of decline, it is again spoken by new generations. Learnr creates a personalized Hawaiian course from one prompt and teaches it in short lessons.

How to learn Hawaiian, step by step

Learn the sounds and the ʻokina. Vowels are pure, as in Spanish, and w can sound like w or v. The ʻokina is a catch in the throat like the break in uh-oh, so Hawaiʻi has four syllables. Practice pairs like kou (your) and koʻu (my).
Respect the kahakō. A long vowel can change a word entirely, so learn every word with its marks, as in kāne (man). Spelling Hawaiian words without ʻokina and kahakō hides their pronunciation, so write them in from day one.
Start sentences with the verb. Hawaiian typically puts the verb first: ua hele au, "I went," and ke heluhelu nei au, "I am reading." Learn ua for completed actions, ke ... nei for the present and e ... ana for ongoing or future actions.
Choose ke or ka and learn the dual. Ke goes before words starting with k, e, a, o and the ʻokina, and ka before the rest. Pronouns distinguish one, two and many, and inclusive from exclusive we, so kāua is you and me while māua is someone else and me.
Learn a and o possession. Hawaiian marks possession with a or o depending on the relationship: kaʻu keiki (my child) but koʻu makua (my parent). Short daily Learnr practice on common pairs builds the instinct for which to use.
Use place names, mele and community. Pronouncing place names correctly is a great daily exercise. Mele (songs) and oli (chants) carry vocabulary and culture, and local classes and community events give you people to speak with.

What you'll learn

Pronounce all 13 letters, including the ʻokina and long vowels
Read and spell words with ʻokina and kahakō correctly
Build verb-first sentences with ua, ke ... nei and e ... ana
Use the articles ke and ka and the a and o possessive classes
Greet people, introduce yourself and talk about family and place

What's inside your Hawaiian course

A sample path Learnr builds for Hawaiian. Your real course adapts to your goal and level.

1. The 13 letters, ʻokina and kahakō
2. Greetings, introductions and family words
3. Verb-first sentences and aspect markers
4. Articles, pronouns and the dual
5. Possessives with a and o
6. Place names, chant, song and conversation

How long does it take to learn Hawaiian?

The sound system takes only days to learn. Basic conversation usually takes 6 to 12 months at 30 to 60 minutes a day, and fluency longer, since chances to hear Hawaiian are limited outside Hawaiʻi. Immersion classes and community events speed things up.

What you need before you start

No prior study is needed. Knowing another Polynesian language such as Māori, Samoan or Tahitian helps a lot, and curiosity about Hawaiian history and culture makes the vocabulary richer.

Common mistakes to avoid

Ignoring the ʻokina and kahakō because signs and menus often leave them out; learn words with the marks, since they change meaning.
Confusing Hawaiian with Hawaiʻi Pidgin, a separate English-based creole; know which one you are hearing and learning.
Using a and o possessives at random, which changes the relationship you describe; learn the main categories with real examples.

How Learnr builds your course

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Hawaiian questions, answered

How many letters are in the Hawaiian alphabet?

Thirteen: the vowels a, e, i, o and u, the consonants h, k, l, m, n, p and w, and the ʻokina. Long vowels are marked with the kahakō.

Is Hawaiian still spoken?

Yes. After a long decline, revitalization through Hawaiian-medium immersion schools and university programs has produced new speakers, and the language is used in education, media and community life.

Can Learnr teach Hawaiian alongside its culture?

Yes. Ask Learnr for a Hawaiian course focused on greetings, place names or mele, and it builds lessons that tie vocabulary to the places and practices where it is used.