Where does “mākaukau” come from?

mākaukau (Hawaiian) comes from Proto-Polynesian ma(a)taqu, from Proto-Austronesian *taqu, from Proto-Austronesian Caqu — to know how, be able to.

mākaukau (Hawaiian): competence, proficiency, efficiency, aptitude, preparation

Definitions

  1. competence, proficiency, efficiency, aptitude, preparation

Ancestry of “mākaukau”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Polynesianma(a)taquto know; to understand
2Proto-Austronesian*taqu—
3Proto-AustronesianCaquto know how, be able to

Words derived from “mākaukau”

Every word from Proto-Austronesian Caqu →Every word from Proto-Austronesian *taqu →Every word from Proto-Polynesian ma(a)taqu →