Uahi

Uahi is a term used in several Polynesian languages to denote smoke or vapor produced by burning. It is commonly found in both Māori and Hawaiian, where it functions as a standard noun describing the visible product of combustion as well as descriptive and poetic imagery.

In everyday language, uahi refers to smoke from fires, cooking, or other burning materials. It can also be used in discussions of weather, atmospheric conditions, or volcanic activity, reflecting the environments common to many Polynesian regions. In literature and poetry, uahi often carries figurative meanings, representing obscurity, transience, or something that is difficult to grasp.

Linguistically, uahi is part of the core lexicon for by-products of combustion within Polynesian languages and has cognates or related forms across related languages. The word is typically encountered in basic vocabulary and language materials designed for learners of Māori or Hawaiian.

Geographic and cultural notes: because of the prominence of fire, cooking, and volcanic activity in many Polynesian contexts, terms for smoke such as uahi appear in traditional narratives, songs, and everyday speech. The word’s usage can vary slightly by dialect, but its primary meaning remains smoke or vapor.

See also: Smoke; Māori language; Hawaiian language; Polynesian languages.