🌺 Hawaiian phrases

How to Say "I don't know" in Hawaiian

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
ʻaʻole ʻike au
"I don't know" in Hawaiian · say it like ah-oh-leh ee-keh ow

The most natural way to say "I don't know" in Hawaiian is ʻaʻole ʻike au. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

ʻaʻole maopopo iaʻu
more formal way to express uncertainty
ʻaʻole au ʻike
casual variant, less commonly used

When to use it

Use this phrase when you genuinely do not have the information someone is asking for. It can be used in both casual and formal settings. It is a polite way to express your lack of knowledge on a topic.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "I don't know" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Hawaiian

HawaiianEnglish
Eia kekahi nīnau, akā, ʻaʻole ʻike au.Here is a question, but I don't know.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this phrase with 'ʻo ia hoʻi,' which means 'that's right' or 'indeed.'

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear ʻaʻole ʻike au, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Hawaiian with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

How do I say 'I don't understand' in Hawaiian?

You can say 'ʻaʻole maopopo iaʻu.'

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