huʻihuʻi
/ˌhu.ʔiˈhu.ʔi/
The Hawaiian word for cool (having a slightly low temperature) is huʻihuʻi.
huʻihuʻi is an adjective used to describe something that has a slightly low temperature.
Meaning: having a slightly low temperature (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /ˌhu.ʔiˈhu.ʔi/.
Did you know?
- The root word huʻi can also mean 'to overturn' or 'to capsize', such as a boat in the ocean.
- Hawaiian lacks a single word that maps exactly to the English slang 'cool' meaning 'fashionable' or 'great'. To say something is 'cool' in that sense, a speaker would use a different word entirely, such as maikaʻi.
- The glottal stop represented by the symbol ʻ in huʻihuʻi is a full consonant. It is produced by a brief closure of the vocal cords, creating a sharp break similar to the middle of the English word 'uh-oh'.
Examples in context
- Huʻihuʻi kēia wai.This water is cool.
- Huʻihuʻi ka makani i kēia pō.The breeze is cool tonight.
Example conversation
Noelani and Koa are standing by the ocean at night.
- NoelaniHuʻihuʻi ka makani i kēia pō, e Koa.The breeze is cool tonight, Koa.
- KoaʻAe, huʻihuʻi loa.Yes, it is very cool.
- NoelaniE ʻono paha ka wai?Is the water refreshing?
- KoaʻAe, huʻihuʻi ka wai.Yes, the water is cool.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry huʻihuʻi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
