Hawaiian Verb · Everyday
ʻuʻumi
Pronunciation: /oo-oo-mee/
Meaning
To compress, squeeze, hold tight. A forceful, inward movement.
Example sentences
E ʻuʻumi paʻa i ka ʻōmole wai, mai kō ʻōwili ʻia.
Squeeze the water bottle tightly, don't let it roll away.
Hoʻopau kaʻu mau kumu i ka ʻuʻumi ʻana i kona ʻakaʻaka i ka wā e haʻi ana ʻo ia i kahi moʻolelo ʻakaʻaka.
My teachers couldn't help but hold back their laughter while he was telling a funny story.
I ka wā i ʻike ai ʻo ia i ka snake, ua ʻuʻumi ʻo ia i kona hanu a holo aku la.
When she saw the snake, she held her breath tight and ran away.
About this word
“ʻuʻumi” is a Hawaiian verb meaning To compress, squeeze, hold tight. It is part of the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) vocabulary in the category of Everyday. Definitions are based on the Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary.