kau

See also: Kau, kāu, kaŭ, kaʻu, -kau, kau-, and ká’ȕ

Ajië

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kau]

Adjective

kau

1. big

References

• Template:cite. 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.
• Template:cite. 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.

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Dibabawon Manobo

Noun

kaù

1. hat

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Fijian

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kahiw, from Proto-Austronesian *kaSiw (compare Malay kayu).

Noun

kau

1. tree
2. wood
3. stick

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German

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aʊ̯

Verb

kau

1. (deprecated template usage) Imperative singular of kauen.

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Hawaiian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *taqu, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqun.

Noun

1. season

Etymology 2

From Proto-Polynesian *tau (compare Maori tau, Niuean tau, Tongan tau), from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taʀuq (compare Malagasy tao, Malay taruh).

Verb

1. to settle

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Indonesian

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kau̯/

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)

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Japanese

Romanization

kau

1. Rōmaji transcription of かう

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Kapingamarangi

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kaRu.

Verb

kau

1. to swim

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Malay

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kau̯/
• Rhymes: -kau̯, -au̯

Pronoun

kau

1. you, your

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-／كو- (informal/towards God) -ku／-كو (informal possessive) hamba／همبا (dated)	kami／کامي (exclusive) kita orang／كيت اورڠ (informal exclusive) kita／کيت (inclusive)
	royal	beta／بيتا
2nd person	standard	kamu／کامو anda／اندا (formal)
		engkau／اڠکاو, kau-／كاو- (informal/towards God) awak／اوق (friendly/older towards younger) -mu／-مو (possessive)	awak semua／اوق سموا kamu semua／كامو سموا kalian／کالين (informal) kau orang／كاو اورڠ (informal)
	royal	tuanku／توانكو
3rd person	standard	dia／دي ia／اي beliau／بلياو (honorific) -nya／-ڽ (possessive)	mereka／مريک dia orang／دي اورڠ (informal)
	royal	baginda／بݢيندا

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Mangarevan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kaRu.

Verb

kau

1. to swim

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Maori

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *kau, from Proto-Oceanic *kayu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kahiw, 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 *kaRu.

Verb

kau (used in the form kauhoe-tia)

1. to swim

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”)

 

Etymology 3

Borrowed from English cow.

Noun

kau

1. a cow

Derived terms

• 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”)

 

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Marshallese

Etymology

Borrowed from English cow.

Pronunciation

• (phonetic) 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

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Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kaRu.

Verb

kau

1. to swim

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Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English cow.

Noun

kau

1. cow

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Tuamotuan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *kaRu.

Verb

kau

1. to swim