nalo meli
/ˈna.lo ˈme.li/
In Hawaiian, the word for bee is nalo meli. Wiktionary also lists nalo.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nalo meli | /ˈna.lo ˈme.li/ | |
| nalo | /ˈna.lo/ | archaic |
The term refers to the insect known as a bee.
What does it mean word for word?
nalo meli is a compound where meli refers to honey, effectively making the phrase mean 'honey bee'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word nalo is an archaic form of the word for bee.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈna.lo ˈme.li/. It has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- When missionaries were choosing a word for honey, they rejected the Hawaiian word hani because it means 'to act coy' or 'to flirt'.
Examples in context
- He nalo meli kēlā.That is a bee.
Example conversation
Koa and Malia are looking at a garden.
- KoaMalia, e nānā i kēlā nalo meli!Malia, look at that bee!
- MaliaHe nalo meli nani kēlā.That is a beautiful bee.
- KoaE mālama kāua i ka nalo meli.Let's take care of the bee.
- MaliaʻAe, he mea pono lākou.Yes, they are important.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bee” translations and entries nalo meli, nalo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries meli, nalo, nalo meli, CC BY-SA 4.0.
