I hear some people say “noo-'wave-uh”
Other people say “Noo-oo hi-wa”
And don’t give me any lame tomay-to tomah-to answers.
I personally don’t understand how the “V” sound got into that word and think that the 2nd pronunciation is correct. Someone please set the record straight.
Thanks.
Think of the surf spot Haleiwa.
Isn’t that pronounced with a “v”? A very subtle v (not the kind in surfboards).
Holly-ay-va?
The most frequent pronunciation I have heard sounds like, " New-weave-ah", and in Hawaii there is the hint of the “H” sound along with the “W”. The use of a “V” sound I believe is from the Hawaiian culture. The double “U” does not seem to be strongly pronounced as it useually is in Hawaiian words. Perhaps David lurks out there, and could clarify the question for all. Whatever he says it is, would be IT for me.
…yep
David has the last word 'cause it’s his name. But one note on the Hawaiian language: Hawaiian was a spoken language only for centuries. Then the pale-skinned folks who need things spelled out decided to put it on paper. To make it simple and logical for them, it was written with the intent that every letter would be pronounced.
Of course, when people talk out loud things can change a bit. But basically when we look at written Hawaiian we can get close on the pronunciation by just saying it as written. Noo-oo-heewa can easily get shortened to Noo-wave-a without much effort. It might also be that the spelling was as close as the inventers of the written language could get to what they were actually hearing. Doug
Assist Post #2
Since I went to school with a bunch of them.
Here in Hawaii, Nuuhiwa is pronouced
Nuu uu hee vah
Hawaiian Language Lesson 10
According the the Hawaiian Dictionary wriiten by Kawena Pukui and Elbert that I’m looking at right now…
For the use of “w”
After i and e usually like v
After u and o usually like w
Initially and after a like a v or w
so
Nuu uu way vah
would be something else other than Hawaiian… But I’m pretty sure David is hawaiian
Met him in Huntington in 76’ his hair was all grey back then… Pretty common for us natives…
people mispronouncing names is pretty common place
been called by my teachers on the mainland Benny, Barney, Boonie even Heartburn just glad it wasn’t “Betty”.
Thanks for the assist. This has been bugging me for a while, and while my pronunciation wasn’t exactly accurate, it was close (I substituted a “w” sound for the “v” sound).
Now I can go around correcting everyone who says “noo-wee-uh” and “noo-way-va”, and if they insist on pronouncing it in an Anglicized way, they should say “Noo-hee-va”.
Otherwise, it’s “Nuu uu hee vah”
obtuz phun…correcting people with the wrung pronuncikation
"I took the kid to the side and told him that his parents had been missleading him throughout his lyfe…the pronunciation of his name was correctly …BA dge-OORN…
with a straight face in the presence of the parents…
…ambrose…
living language
with ourity of heart and love even the worst pronunciation is accepteble
scolarly attitudes can isolate the speakers from that which they wish to do most… comun i=icate
for the rythm and meter of the song of comunication
awareness of alternative pronunciation forms can open
door to unseen facets of delight
teddy boy told me about the Hawaiian dog…chi-a- hoo-a hoo-a
oh the beeg laugh… and don’t forget la-hoy-ya …
…ambrose…
and how about new quay?
new quay?
no way!
way!
later SA!
Even locals sometimes “forget” to use “v” for “w”. Go figure.
I’m certain some Hawaiian (with a “v”) has been creeping into my Yiddish.
Auwe! sounds very much like Oyvay! and means much the same as well. Hey, that’s even similar to “no way.” The fun just never stops.
I witnessed a near fist fight a while ago in Borders Book store coffee restaurant. A tourist pronounced “Oahu” the lazy way. A local who is known for being irritated by such errors was handily present. He was none too polite about correcting the tourist’s pronunciation. The tourist, being embarrassed in front of his main squeeze (aka very nice lady), reacted defensively. They began to communicate very clearly with phrases very difficult to misunderstand in any language, basically casting aspersions on each other’s sexual preferences in and out of their families and species, birth legitimacy, brain sizes, and ability to find their genitalia and posteriors with both hands. The main squeeze, clearly more embarrassed than anyone else in the place, was finally able to negotiate terms of peace with a better offer for her significant other than a possible black eye, and then there was sputtering and retreat. All’s well that ends well, but I bet the guy will still pronounce Oahu the lazy way.
Is there an okina present like Nu’uhiwa? I am not sure. I only took two classes on Hawaiian at UH. Hats off to people who want to correctly pronounce Hawaiian words and names. That shows respect and appreciation.
…This is another good reason for preserving Kamehameha School, but I won’t get into that here and now.
Mahalo and IMUA!
Yeah, I’m all for preserving native languages. Some things shouldn’t be allowed to die out.
One of my favorites: Haleakala
way-cool or in english f-ish
Unckle D … Yup according to my mom there`s a okina in there . Back to the shaping room .
Aloha ,
Kala
New-wave-ah
-Tiff
New-wave-ah-Tiff
That’s how I remember David saying it, so that’s how I say it. I surfed with him a bunch back in the mid 70’s - HB, Salt Creek, SanO, Trestles.