Hawaiian Verb · Sea
hōʻau
Pronunciation: /HOH-oh-ah-oo/
Meaning
To teach to swim. Often used for children learning water skills.
Example sentences
Ua makemake au e hōʻau i kaʻu keiki i loko o ka moana.
I want to teach my child to swim in the ocean.
E kōkua mai ʻoe e hōʻau i nā haumāna hou i ka ʻauʻau palekana.
Please help teach the new students safe swimming.
He kumu hoʻohālike maikaʻi ʻo ia no ka poʻe e makemake ana e hōʻau i nā ʻelele mai ka ʻāina ʻē.
He is a good role model for those who want to teach visitors to swim.
About this word
“hōʻau” is a Hawaiian verb meaning To teach to swim. It is part of the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) vocabulary in the category of Sea. Definitions are based on the Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary.