kau

See also: Appendix:Variations of "kau"

Translingual

Etymology

Abbreviation of English Kanuri.

Symbol

kau

1. (international standards) ISO 639-2 & ISO 639-3 language code for Kanuri.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Kanuri terms

English

Adjective

kau (comparative more kau, superlative most kau)

1. (Singapore, colloquial) Alternative form of gau.

Ajië

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kau]

Adjective

kau

1. big

References

• Leenhardt, M. (1935), Vocabulaire et grammaire de la langue Houaïlou, Paris: Institut d'ethnologie. Cited in: "Houaïlou" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.
• Leenhardt, M. (1946), Langues et dialectes de l'Austro-Mèlanèsie. Cited in: "Ajiø" in Greenhill, S.J., Blust, R., & Gray, R.D. (2008). The Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database: From Bioinformatics to Lexomics. Evolutionary Bioinformatics, 4:271–283.

Albanian

Noun

kau

1. inflection of ka:
   1. definite nominative singular
   2. indefinite dative/ablative singular

Dibabawon Manobo

Noun

kaù

1. hat

Fijian

Etymology

From Proto-Central-Pacific *kayu, from Proto-Oceanic *kayu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kahiw (compare Malay kayu), from Proto-Austronesian *kaSiw.

Noun

kau

1. tree
2. wood
3. stick

German

Pronunciation

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aʊ̯

Verb

kau

1. singular imperative of kauen

Hawaiian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkau̯/, [ˈkɐw], [ˈkɔw] (rapid speech)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *taqu (compare with Maori tau "year"), from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqun (compare with Malay tahun, Tagalog taón both meaning "year").

Noun

kau

1. season

   kau wela ― summer

   kau anu ― winter

   kau o makalapua ― spring

   ke kau o hāʻule lau ― autumn, fall

2. period of time, lifetime

   I ke kau i ke aliʻi o Ka-mehameha.

   In the time of the chief, Kamehameha.

3. semester, term
4. session

Etymology 2

From Proto-Polynesian *tau, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taʀuq.

Verb

kau(transitive)

1. to place, to put
2. to settle, to perch
3. to enact, to impose, to levy (a tax)
4. to board, to mount
5. (of the moon) to rise
6. (of the sun) to set
7. to hang up

Derived terms

• hoʻokau (“put on”, verb)

Related terms

• kaulaʻi (“to hang to dry”, verb)

Etymology 3

From Proto-Polynesian *tau (“song”).

Noun

kau

1. sacred chant

Derived terms

• kanikau (“lamentation”)
• kaukau (reduplicated form)

Verb

kau

1. (transitive) to chant

Derived terms

• kauna (“chanting”)

References

• Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H. (1986), “kau”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN

Hokkien

For pronunciation and definitions of kau – see 交 (“to intersect; to cross; to reach; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 交).

For pronunciation and definitions of kau – see 溝 (“ditch; trench; channel; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 溝).

For pronunciation and definitions of kau – see 勾 (“to bend; to curve; to crook; to hook; to draw; to delineate; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 勾).

For pronunciation and definitions of kau – see 郊 (“suburbs; outskirts; open spaces”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 郊).

For pronunciation and definitions of kau – see 鉤 (“hook; barb; sickle; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 鉤).

For pronunciation and definitions of kau – see 蛟 (“mythical flood dragon; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 蛟).

For pronunciation and definitions of kau – see 高 (“only used in 高長／高长”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 高).

Indonesian

Etymology

Inherited from Malay kau, from Proto-Malayic *kau, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(i-)kahu, from Proto-Austronesian *(i-)kaSu.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian)
  • IPA^(key): /ˈkau̯/ [ˈkau̯]
    • Rhymes: -au̯
    • Syllabification: kau
  • IPA^(key): (colloquial, dialectal) /ˈko/ [ˈko]

Pronoun

kau

1. (poetic) Second-person singular pronoun: you, your, yours

Usage notes

Largely used in poetry and songs. Might be perceived as literary or disapproving.

Synonyms

Indonesian informal second-person pronouns:

• anta (informal, mainly used by Muslim community)
• antum (informal, mainly used by Muslim community)
• coen (slang, East Java)
• ente (informal, mainly used by Betawi ethnic group)
• kamu (intimate)
• ko, kowe (informal, Java)
• kon, koen (colloquial, East Java)
• lu, lo, loe, elu (informal, mainly used by Betawi ethnic group)
• mika, mike (informal, Eastern Sumatra)

Japanese

Romanization

kau

1. Rōmaji transcription of かう

Kapampangan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kəˈu/ [kəˈu]
• Hyphenation: ka‧u

Noun

kau

1. thirst

Kapingamarangi

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kaRu.

Verb

kau

1. to swim

Makasar

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(i-)kahu, Proto-Austronesian *(i-)kaSu.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka.u/
• Hyphenation: ka‧u

Pronoun

kau (Lontara spelling ᨀᨕᨘ)

1. you (familiar second person)

See also

Makasar free and bound pronouns

	independent	absolutive	nominative	possessive
1st sg / 1st pl exclusive	nakke	-a'	ku-	-ku
1st pl exclusive (archaic)	kambe	-kang	ki-	-mang
1st pl inclusive / 2nd sg polite	katte	-ki'	ki-	-ta
2nd sg / pl familiar	kau	-ko	nu-	-nu
3rd sg / pl	ia	-i	na-	-na

Malay

Etymology

Shortened form of engkau, from Proto-Malayic *kau, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(i-)kahu, from Proto-Austronesian *(i-)kaSu.

Pronunciation

• (Baku, schwa-variety) IPA^(key): /ˈkaw/ [ˈkau̯]

• Audio (Malaysia):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -kau̯, -au̯
• Hyphenation: kau

Pronoun

kau (Jawi spelling کاو)

1. you, your

   Alternative form: ko

Usage notes

Used among contemporary friends and relatives, especially of the same gender; also used in disapproving tones.

See also

Malay personal pronouns

		singular	plural
1st person	standard	saya / ساي aku / اکو, ku- / كوـ (informal/towards God) -ku / ـكو (poetic possessive) hamba / همبا (dated) daku / داکو (poetic)	kami / کامي (exclusive) kita orang / كيت اورڠ (informal exclusive) kita / کيت (inclusive)
	royal	beta / بيتا
2nd person	standard	kamu / کامو
		engkau / اڠکاو, kau- / كاوـ (informal/poetic/towards God) kau / كاو (informal) awak / اوق (friendly/older towards younger) anda / اندا (formal) awda / اءودا (Brunei, formal) -mu / ـمو (poetic possessive) dikau / ديکاو (poetic)	anda semua / اندا سموا (formal) awak semua / اوق سموا kamu semua / كامو سموا kalian / کالين (archaic) kau orang / كاو اورڠ (informal)
	royal	tuanku / توانكو
3rd person	standard	dia / دي ia / اي beliau / بلياو (honorific) -nya / ـڽ (possessive)	mereka / مريک dia orang / دي اورڠ (informal)
	royal	baginda / بݢيندا

Mangarevan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kaRu.

Verb

kau

1. to swim

Maori

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkau/, [ˈkɐʉ]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *kau (compare with Hawaiian ʻau), from Proto-Oceanic *kayu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kahiw (compare with Malay kayu), from Proto-Austronesian *kaSiw.

Verb

kau (used in the form rākau)

1. tree; wood
2. stick

Derived terms

• kakau (“handle; stem”)
• kaunoti (“bottom firestick”)
• kaupae (“trestle”)
• kaupapa (“platform”)
• kaupeka (“branch”)
• kaurapa (“buttress”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Polynesian *kau₂ from Proto-Oceanic *kaRu.

Verb

kau (used in the form kauhoe-tia)

1. to swim

   Synonym: kakau

2. to wade

Derived terms

• kau aihe (“the butterfly stroke”)
• kau āpuru (“the breaststroke”)
• kau kiore (“the backstroke”)
• kau tāhoe (“the sidestroke”)
• kau tāwhai (“freestyle swimming; to swim freestyle”)
• kau tīraha (“the backstroke; to swim backstroke”)
• kauanga (“ford”)
• whakakau (“to make something to swim”)

Related terms

• kaukau

Etymology 3

Borrowed from English cow.

Noun

kau

1. a cow

Derived terms

• kiko kau (“beef”) (cow meat)
• kirikau (“cowhide, cow leather”)
• kūao kau uha (“a heifer”)
• mīhini kutētē kau (“a milking machine”)
• mīhini miraka kau (“a milking machine”)
• mīti kau (“beef”) (cow meat)
• whāma kau (“a dairy farm”)

Further reading

• Williams, Herbert William (1917), “kau”, in A Dictionary of the Maori Language, page 123
• “kau” in John C. Moorfield, Te Aka: Maori–English, English–Maori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, 2011, →ISBN.

Marshallese

Etymology

Borrowed from English cow.

Pronunciation

• (phonetics) IPA^(key): [kɑːu], (enunciated) [kɑ wu]
• (phonemic) IPA^(key): /kæɰwiw/
• Bender phonemes: {kahwiw}

Noun

kau (construct form kauin)

1. cow
2. beef

References

• Marshallese–English Online Dictionary

Pitcairn-Norfolk

Etymology

From English cow.

Noun

kau

1. cow

Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kau. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻau and Maori kau.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈka.u/
• Hyphenation: ka‧u

Verb

kau

1. (intransitive) to swim

References

• Veronica Du Feu (1996), Rapanui (Descriptive Grammars), Routledge, →ISBN, page 207
• Paulus Kieviet (2017), A grammar of Rapa Nui‎^[1], Berlin: Language Science Press, →ISBN, page 29

Tagalog

Etymology

From kayo but the last syllable replaced with homophonous English U. See also un for iyon, and ngaun for ngayon.

Pronoun

kau (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜌᜓ) (text messaging, Internet slang)

1. abbreviation of kayo (“you (plural or sometimes polite singular form)”)

Anagrams

• uka, Kua

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English cow.

Noun

kau

1. cow

Tuamotuan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kaRu.

Verb

kau

1. to swim

Wolio

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kahiw, from Proto-Austronesian *kaSiw.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kau/

Noun

kau

1. wood

References

• Anceaux, Johannes C. (1987), Wolio Dictionary (Wolio-English-Indonesian) / Kamus Bahasa Wolio (Wolio-Inggeris-Indonesia), Dordrecht: Foris