pipi kāne
/ˈpi.pi ˈkaː.ne/word by word
The Hawaiian word for bull is pipi kāne.
pipi kāne refers specifically to an uncastrated adult male bovine.
Meaning: uncastrated adult male bovine (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pipi (cow or cattle) and kāne (man or male).
Which one should you use?
While pipi kāne specifies a bull, the word pipi can be used alone to refer generally to cattle or cows.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈpi.pi ˈkaː.ne/. It has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The word pipi is actually a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'beef'.
- The word pipi was introduced to the islands when cattle were first brought to Hawaii, as the animals were not native to the archipelago.
- In Hawaiian culture, the word kāne does not just mean 'male' but is also used as the word for 'man' or 'husband'.
Examples in context
- He pipi kāne kēlā.That is a bull.
- Ua hele mai ka pipi kāne.The bull has arrived.
- Ke ʻike nei au i ka pipi kāne.I see the bull.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at livestock in a field.
- KoaE ʻike la ʻoe i ka pipi kāne?Do you see the bull?
- MaliaʻAe, ʻike au iā ia.Yes, I see it.
- KoaHe nui loa kēia pipi kāne.This bull is very large.
- MaliaʻO ia ka pipi kāne hou.That is the new bull.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (pipi, kāne) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kāne, pipi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
