Kalikimaka
/kaˌli.kiˈma.ka/
Christmas in Hawaiian is Kalikimaka. Wiktionary also lists Kalikamaka.
Meaning: festival or holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ which in Western Christianity is celebrated on December 25 in most places (name)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| Kalikimaka | /kaˌli.kiˈma.ka/ |
| Kalikamaka |
The term refers to the holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated by Western Christians on December 25.
Which one should you use?
Kalikimaka and Kalikamaka are both forms of the word for Christmas.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaˌli.kiˈma.ka/. The word has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The phrase Mele Kalikimaka combines the word Mele, meaning 'song' or 'chant', with Kalikimaka. It literally translates to 'Merry Christmas' but carries the connotation of a festive song.
- Because Hawaiian has one of the shortest alphabets in the world with only 13 consonants, the complex cluster of sounds in 'Christmas' is impossible to pronounce without adding vowels.
- In Hawaiian culture, the concept of mele extends beyond Christmas to include a sacred tradition of reciting genealogy and ancestral lineage through rhythmic speech.
Examples in context
- Mele KalikimakaMerry Christmas
Example conversation
Koa and Kiana are talking about their holiday plans.
- KoaHe aha kou hoʻāpā no Kalikimaka?What are your plans for Christmas?
- KianaE hui pū mākou i Kalikimaka.We will gather together for Christmas.
- KoaHe manaʻo maikaʻi kēlā.That is a great idea.
- KianaʻAe, e hale pū kākou!Yes, let's all be home together!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Christmas” translations and entries Kalikimaka, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
