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1. nvi. Jaw, cheekbone.

• Figuratively, to talk a lot, jabber, jibber jabber.
• Examples:
  • Ke ā nui, ke ā iki, big jaw, little jaw [bragging and wheedling, as of a man seeking the favor of a woman].
• Related:
  • hoʻā Caus/sim.; To talk a lot, jabber.
• References:
  • PCP aa .

2. n. An instrument made of smooth bone, formerly used for abortion, lancing, or bleeding.

• Related:
  • Also: āʻōʻō, piercing ā.

3. nvs. Mold found in souring foods, especially poi, generally known as Oidium lactis or Oospora lactis, but now called Geotrichum candidum 🌐.

4. conj. and prep., When, at the time when, until, to, as far as, and, or rare, and then, but (usually preceding verbs, whereas a me usually precedes nouns; ā may also connect words translated by English adjectives, as he po'e kuli ā ʻāʻā, a people deaf and dumb; nani ā pumehana kēia kakahiaka, this morning is beautiful and warm). (Gram. 9.5, 11.1.) Ā also connects verb + noun compounds: see ʻai ā manō, holoāiʻa, Gram. 8.7.2.

• Examples:
  • Ā hiki mai ia, when he arrives.
  • Hola ʻelua ā ʻoi, a little after two o'clock.
  • Noho ʻoia malaila ā make, he lived there until death.
  • Prolonged ā may designate a protracted period of time or distance, a long continued action, or emphasis.
  • Aloha ā nui, much, much aloha.
  • Mahalo ā nui, thanks very, very much.
  • Holo aʻela ia ā hiki i ka ʻāina kahiki, he sailed and sailed and sailed until he reached a foreign country.
  • Hele ā uka, go clear to the uplands.
• References:
  • PCP a .

1. prep. Of, acquired by. This a forms part of the possessives, as in ka'u, mine, and kāna, his. (Gram. 9.6.1.)ʻUmi-a-Līloa, ʻUmi, [son] of Līloa. Hale-a-ka-lā, house acquired [or used] by the sun [mountain name]. (PPN ʻa.)

2. (Cap.) nvs. Abbreviation of ʻākau, north, as in surveying reports.

And, when, until, to, etc.

• Source:
  • Existing dictionary word, Spelling variant

A word used only at the end of a sentence or phrase, with meanings such as: I told you so; don't you forget it; you should know; you dummy. Ua hoʻomaka ka papa i ka hola ʻehiku, ā. The class started at seven o'clock, you dummy. Niʻihau.

• Related:
  • Iwi ā. Jawbone, mandible.

in Hawaiian, as in most other languages, is the first letter of the alphabet; “because, if pronounced open as a in father, it is the simplest and easiest of all sounds.” Encye. Amer. Its sound, in Hawaiian, is generally that of a in father, ask, pant, &c.; but it has, sometimes, when standing before the consonants k, l, m, n, and p, a short sound, somewhat resembling the short u, as in mutter, but not so short. Thus paka, malimali, lama, mana, napenape, are pronounced somewhat as we should pronounce pukka, mullymully, lumma, munna, nuppynuppy, &c.; reference being had only to the first vowel of each word. It has also in a few words a sound nearly resembling (but not so strong) that of au or aw in English; as iwaho, mawaho, pronounced somewhat as iwauho, mawauho. To foreigners who merely read the language, the common pronunciation of a as in father is near enough for all practical purposes; but to those who wish to speak it, the mouth of a Hawaiian is the best directory.

is used for various parts of speech, and, of course, has various significations.

adv. When; then; there; until. With verbs in a narrative tense, it signifies when, and when, &c.; as, a hiki mai ia, when he arrived. With nei it signifies a designation of place, as mai a nei aku, from here (this place) onward. Until, as noho oia malaila a make, he lived there until he died. NOTE.—A nei is often written as one word, and then it signifies here, present place. A when pronounced with a protracted sound, signifies a protracted period of time, or distance, or a long continued action; as, holo ae la ia a—a hiki i ka aina kahiki, he sailed a long time (or a long distance) until he reached a foreign country.

conj. And; and then; and when. When it connects verbs, it usually stands by itself; as, holo ka waa, a komo iho, the canoe sailed and sank. When it connects nouns, it is usually joined with me; as, haawi mai oia i ka ai a me ke kapa, he furnished food and clothing. A with me signifies and, and also, besides, together with, &c. When emphatic, it is merely a disjunctive. Lunk. 6:39. NOTE.—In narration, it frequently stands at the beginning of sentences or paragraphs, and merely refers to what has been said, without any very close connection with it. In many cases, it is apparently euphonic, or seems to answer no purpose, except as a preparatory sound to something that may follow; as, akahi no oukou a hele i keia ala, never before have you passed this road. Gram. § 166.

prep. Of; to; in connection with motion, e hoi oe a ka hale, return to the house, (hiki i) understood. Laieik. 12. Unto; at; belonging. It designates the properties of relation, possession and place; and is often synonymous with o, but more generally distinct, giving another shade of meaning and implying a more close connection. Gram. § 69, 3.

int. Lo; behold. It is expressive of surprise, disappointment, astonishment or admiration. It is similar in meaning to aia hoi, eia hoi, aia ka.

v. To burn, as a fire; ua a mai ke ahi, the fire burns; ua a mai ke ahi ma ka waha. the fire burned in their mouths.

2. To burn, as a lamp; to blaze, as a flame.

3. FIG. To burn, as jealousy. Hal. 79:5. As anger. Nah. 11:1.

4. Hoo or ho. To cause to burn, i. e., to kindle; to light, as a lamp; to kindle, as a fire. Also with ho doubled, as hohoa, to dry; na hua i hohoa ia, dried fruits. Oihk. 2:14. See the reduplicate form AA and Hoo. Gram. § 212.

adj. Fiery; burning; he lua a, a fiery pit.

s. The jawbone; the cheek bone. Hal. 3:7. A lana, upper jaw; a lalo, lower jaw.

s. The name of an instrument made of smooth bone, and used formerly for piercing or killing an unborn child. It was called the a oo, the piercing a; also a koholua. See KOHOLUA.

s. Name of broken lava from the volcano; probably so called from being burnt. See A, v. Ke a o Kaniku a me Napuuapele.

s. Name of the white spots that appear in poi when pounding.

s. Name of a large sea bird often caught by natives; also called aaianuheakane, feathers white.

s. Name of a small fish that bites at a hook; called also aakimakau.

s. Name of the Hawaiian alphabet; also the first sheet on which it was printed.

adv., When; then; there; until. With verbs in a narrative tense, it signifies when, and when, etc.: as, a hiki mai ia, when he arrived. With nei it signifies a designation of place: as, mai a nei aku, from here (this place) onward. Until: as, noho oia malaila a make; he lived there until he died. (A nei is often written as one word, and then it signifies here, or the present place.)

adv., A when pronounced with a protracted sound, signifies a protracted period of time, or distance, or a long continued action: as, holo ae la ia a a hiki i ka aina kahiki; he sailed a long time, or a long distance, until he reached a foreign country.

preposition, Of; to; in connection with motion, e hoi oe a ka hale, return to the house, (hiki i is understood). Laieik. p. 12. Unto; at; belonging. It designates the properties of relation, possession and place; and is often synonymous with o, but generally distinct, giving another shade of meaning and implying a closer connection.

1. v., To burn, as a fire: ua a mai ke ahi, the fire burns; ua a mai ke ahi ma ka waha; the fire burned in their mouths.

2. v., To burn, as a lamp; to blaze, as a flame.

3. v., Fig. To burn, as with jealousy or anger.

interjection, Lo; behold. An expression of surprise, disappointment, astonishment or admiration. It is similar in meaning to aia hoi, eia hoi, aia ka.