View source for List of English words of Hawaiian origin

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Incomplete list|date=February 2011}}
The [[Hawaiian language]] has offered a number of words to the [[English language]]. Some Hawaiian words are known to non-Hawaiian speakers, and a few have also been assimilated into the English language (e.g., ''aloha'', meaning "hello", "love", or "goodbye", or ''mahalo'', meaning "thank you"). English also borrows some Hawaiian words (e.g. ''[[ukulele]]'', ''[[Mahi-mahi|mahimahi]]'', and ''[[muʻumuʻu]]''). Hawaiian vocabulary often overlaps with other Polynesian languages, such as Tahitian, so it is not always clear which of those languages a term is borrowed from.

The Hawaiian [[orthography]] is notably different from the [[English orthography]] because there is a special letter in the Hawaiian alphabet, the [[ʻokina]]. The ʻokina represents a [[glottal stop]], which indicates a short pause to separate syllables. The [[kahakō]] represents longer vowel sounds. Both the {{okina}}okina and kahakō are often omitted in English orthography.

Due to the Hawaiian orthography's difference from English orthography, the pronunciation of the words differ. For example, the ''[[muʻumuʻu]]'', traditionally a Hawaiian dress, is pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|uː|m|uː}} {{respell|MOO|moo}} by many [[Continental United States|mainland]] (colloquial term for the Continental U.S.) residents. However, many Hawaii residents have learned that the ʻokina in Hawaiian signifies a glottal stop. Thus, in the Hawaiian language, ''muʻumuʻu'' is pronounced {{IPA|haw|ˈmuʔuˈmuʔu|}}, approximately {{respell|MOO|oo|MOO|oo}}. The pronunciations listed here are how it would sound in Hawaiian orthography.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Vowel
! Pronunciation
|-
| a
| {{IPAblink|aː}}, {{IPAblink|ɐ}} or {{IPAblink|ə}}
|-
| e
| {{IPAblink|eː}}, {{IPAblink|ɛ}}, or {{IPAblink|e}}
|-
| i
| {{IPAblink|iː}} or {{IPAblink|i}}
|-
| o
| {{IPAblink|oː}} or {{IPAblink|o}}
|-
| u
| {{IPAblink|uː}} or {{IPAblink|u}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Hawaiian word
! Meaning
! Pronunciation ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]])
! Definition link
<!-- WHEN ADDING NEW WORDS TO THIS LIST, PLEASE JUST PUT A DASH IN PLACE OF THE IPA IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY PRONOUNCE THE WORD. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE PRONUNCIATIONS WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOU'RE DOING! -->
|-
|align="center"|[[Lava#ʻAʻā|{{okina}}A{{okina}}ā]]
| A kind of rough-surface volcanic rock. Note that there are two [[glottal stop]]s before and after the first ''a''. Thus, it is not spoken as "ahh", but as "ah-ah".
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ʔəˈʔaː|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:ʻaʻā|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|Akamai
| Intelligent, clever, smart.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|əkəˈmɐj|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:akamai|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Aloha]]
| Hello, goodbye, and love; outside of Hawai{{okina}}i, only the first two meanings are used.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|əˈlohə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:aloha|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Kava|{{okina}}Awa]]
|A Polynesian shrub, ''Piper methysticum'', of the pepper family, the aromatic roots of which are used to make an intoxicating beverage.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈʔɐwə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:kava#English|Link]] <!-- wikt lists this as being Tongan; need to 2xcheck? (see talkpage for note) -->
|-
|align="center"|[[Haole]]
| Foreigner or outsider. Usually directed towards Caucasians or people from the mainland. May be said offensively, but is commonly said familiarly.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈhɐo̯le|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:haole|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Green sea turtle|Honu]]
| Green sea turtle.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈhonu|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:honu|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Hula]]
| Ancient Hawaiian form of dance. In the older days, men used to do hula as a sign of masculinity and as a war dance. Also see [[haka]]. Many people get confused between the Hawaiian hula (more graceful and slow) and the Tahitian hula (quicker and more hip movements).
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈhulə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:hula|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Reef triggerfish|Humuhumunukunukuāpua{{okina}}a]]
| The reef triggerfish. It is notorious for its long name, which many struggle to pronounce correctly.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈhumuˈhumuˈnukuˈnukuˈwaːpuˈwɐʔə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:humuhumunukunukuapuaa|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Kahuna]]
| Hawaiian priest, wizard, or [[shaman]]; used in the slang phrase "big kahuna".
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|kəˈhunə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:kahuna|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|Kama{{okina}}āina
| Child of the Land, refers to any person born and raised in Hawai’i. Does not describe someone who moves to Hawai’i.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|kəməˈʔaːjnə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:kamaʻaina|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Keiki]]
| A child.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈkejti|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:keiki|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Kukui]]
| The candlenut tree, state tree of Hawaii, so named because the nuts were used as candles. Kukui nut leis were worn by celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and Tyra Banks in 2005–07 and became popular must-have accessories.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|kuˈkuwi|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:kukui|Link]]
|-
|align="center" | [[Lānai (Hawaiian language)|Lānai]]
| A veranda or [[patio]], from the word lānai (not to be confused with the island, [[Lanai|Lāna{{okina}}i]]).
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|laːˈnɐj|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:lanai|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Laniakea Supercluster|Laniakea]]
|The galaxy supercluster that is home to the Milky Way. It means "immeasurable heaven".
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈlɐnijəˈkɛjə|}}
|align="center"|
|-
|align="center"|[[Lei (Hawaii)|Lei]]
| A garland of flowers and/or leaves to be worn around the neck (not to be confused with the Romanian ''lei'', plural of ''leu'', meaning the currency).
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|lej|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:lei|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Luau|lū{{okina}}au]]
| A Hawaiian feast.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|luːˈʔɐw|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:luau|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Mahalo (word)|Mahalo]]
| Thank you.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|məˈhɐlo|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:mahalo|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Mahi-mahi]]
| Dolphin fish; the word means "very strong."
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈmɐhiˈmɐhi|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:mahi-mahi|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Mana (Oceanian mythology)|Mana]]
| Magical or spiritual power.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈmɐnə|}}
|align="center" rowspan="2"|
|-
|align="center"|[[Shark|Manō]]
| Shark
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|məˈnoː|}}
|-
|align="center"|[[Muʻumuʻu]]
| A loose gown or dress.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈmuʔuˈmuʔu|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:muumuu|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Ohana|{{okina}}Ohana]]
| Family, neighborhood. May also mean a guest house where family members stay.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ʔoˈhɐnə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:ohana|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Wahoo|Ono]]
| Good to eat. May also refer to the [[Scombridae|Scombrid Fish]], also known as the Wahoo.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈono|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:Whaoo|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Lava#Pāhoehoe|Pāhoehoe]]
| A kind of smooth-surface volcanic rock.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|paːˈhoweˈhowe|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:pahoehoe|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Pele's hair]]
| A type of volcanic glass fibers named after [[Pele (mythology)|Pele]], the Hawaiian fire goddess of volcanoes (see also [[limu o Pele]]).
|align="center" rowspan="2"|{{IPA|haw|ˈpɛlɛ|}}
|align="center" rowspan="2"|
|-
|align="center"|[[Pele's tears]]
| Solidified pieces of lava named after Pele.
|-
|align="center"|[[Poi (food)|Poi]]
| A type of Hawaiian food made from mashing [[corm]]s of the [[taro]] plant.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈpowi|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:poi|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|Puka
| A hole or perforation. [[Puka shell]]s are round shells with center holes, strung together to make popular necklaces.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈpukə|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:puka|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Taboo]]
| From Hawaiian ''kapu''. Also [[Māori language|Maori]], [[Tongan language|Tongan]], [[Samoan language|Samoan]], [[Tahitian language|Tahitian]] ''tapu'' or [[Fiji]]an ''tabu''.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈkɐpu|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:taboo|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Ukulele|{{okina}}Ukulele]]
| A small guitar-like musical instrument that resembles the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] ''[[cavaquinho]]'' (literally "jumping flea").
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈʔukuˈlɛlɛ|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:ukulele|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|Wahine
| A (Polynesian) woman, a female surfer.
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|wəˈhine|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:wahine|Link]]
|-
|align="center"|[[Wiki]]
| Fast; used in the "[[Wiki Wiki Shuttle]]" and "[[English Wikipedia]]".
|align="center"|{{IPA|haw|ˈviti|}}
|align="center"|[[:wikt:wiki|Link]]
|}

== See also ==
{{Wiktionary category|type=Hawaiian words|category=Hawaiian derivations}}
* [[Lists of English words of international origin]]
* [[List of English words of Polynesian origin]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
*{{cite book
  | last = Carr
  | first = Elizabeth Ball
  | title = Da Kine Talk: From Pidgin to Standard English in Hawaii
  | publisher = [[University of Hawaii Press|The University Press of Hawaii]]
  | year = 1973
  | orig-year = 1972
  | location = Honolulu
  | isbn = 0-8248-0209-8
}}
*{{cite book
  | editor = Philip Babcock Gove, Noah Webster
  | title = Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language
  | publisher = [[Merriam G. & C.]]
  | year = 1976
  | isbn = 0-87779-103-1
}}

{{English words of foreign origin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of English Words Of Hawaiian Origin}}
[[Category:Hawaii history-related lists|English]]
[[Category:Lists of English words of foreign origin|Hawaiian]]
[[Category:Culture of Hawaii]]