Haoli/Phrases

Greetings

One should always use van pitað tatur (the elegant form, preceding modifiers) and van roisatað tatur (the polite form, OVS word order) in greetings with strangers and elders. Use of van rasað tatur (the common form, proceeding modifiers) is allowed for greeting family and friends and van aramāð tatur (the romantic form, VOS word order) when addressing a love interest or partner.

Haoli English Polite/Common
Harpaje iane jia'tulasse je'osuvasse kase. I [wish to] have you come and be merry. Polite
Osuvpaje. [Hopefully] (you) are merry. Common
Harpaje iane jia'megesse je'tervesesse kase. I [wish to] have you go and be healthy. Polite
Tervespeje. [Hopefully] (you) are healthy. Common
Harpaje iane jia'rovko tultefasse kase. I [wish to] have you return shortly. Polite
Rovko tultefpaje kase. [Hopefully] you return shortly. Common
Jamadh pavur harpaje kase. [Hopefully] you have a day of ease. Polite
Pavur harpaje. [Hopefully] (you) have a day (of ease). Common
Alompiji kase. [Hopefully] you dream. Polite
Alompiji. [Hopefully] (you) dream. Common

Thank You

  • There is no word for “thank” in Haoli. To thank someone, you would complement them regarding what you are thanking them for. A general structure for a “thank you” phrase would be: You [do] (some action) well. Vayinko [action] kase.
  • The response to a “thank you” complement, or a “you’re welcome” uses the optative mood and is usually: [Hopefully] I will continue. Kokpeje iane.

Apologies

There is no word for “sorry” in Haoli. To express your apology to someone, you acknowledge that what you did was not good using the optative mood and negating the verb. The general structure is: I wish I had not [done] (some action) or I wish to never [do] (some action) in the future.
Examples:

  • I wish I had not spoken. Ro juvanhpaeje an iane.
  • I wish to not steal in the future. Ro romhēje an iane.

Idioms

  • elvonolo – lit. in abstract; so to speak
  • tultussu ele – lit. like wind moves; something that can change at any moment
  • fitu – lit. as compared to trees; when someone is compared to trees they are not useful as trees are very useful
  • harge kasēdh takpuolho von arinor – lit. to have the sun on your back; to have someone who is making you feel nervous and pressured

Yes/No

  • ig – yes
  • omh – no