fānau

Tokelauan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *fanau. Cognates include Hawaiian hānau, Maori whānau, and Tuvaluan faanau.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈhaː.na.u]
• Hyphenation: fā‧na‧u

Noun

fānau

1. birth
2. offspring, children, litter

Synonyms

• (offspring): tamaiti

Verb

fānau

1. (intransitive) to give birth
2. (intransitive) to be born

References

• R. Simona, editor (1986), Tokelau Dictionary‎^[1], Auckland: Office of Tokelau Affairs, page 111