mo'ai

See also: moai, Moai, moái, and mò'āi

Rapa Nui

FWOTD – 21 October 2012

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmo.ʔai/

Noun

mo'ai

1. Statue, statuette (especially one of the large stone statues on Easter Island).
   • 1995, Veronica de Feu, Rapanui: A Descriptive Grammar‎^[1], page 153:

     Ko tikea 'a e au te moai nui nui ...

     I have seen a big statue.

     Note: This source does not show non-ambiguous glottal stops.

Derived terms

• mo'ai kavakava

Descendants

• English: moai
• German: Moai
• Portuguese: moai
• Spanish: moái

See also

• ahu
• pukao
• marae