lāpaki
/laːˈpa.ki/
The Hawaiian word for "bunny" is lāpaki.
This noun refers to a young rabbit.
Meaning: young rabbit (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /laːˈpa.ki/.
Did you know?
- In Hawaii, wild rabbits are considered an invasive species that can damage the delicate island ecosystem.
- Because rabbits are not native to the Hawaiian Islands, the word lāpaki is a phonetic transliteration of the English word 'rabbit'.
- Because it is a recent addition to the language, you will find lāpaki in modern Hawaiian textbooks but not in traditional chants or ancient literature.
Examples in context
- He lāpaki kēlā.That is a bunny.
Example conversation
Koa and Kiana are looking at a pet store window.
- KoaE nānā, he lāpaki keia!Look, this is a bunny!
- KianaHe lāpaki whitē ia.It is a white bunny.
- KoaHe lāpaki pili ia.It is a fluffy bunny.
- KianaHe lāpaki cute loa ia!It is a very cute bunny!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lāpaki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lāpaki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
