Kēkēmapa
/keː.keːˈma.pa/
In Hawaiian, the word for the English phrase "December" is Kēkēmapa.
Kēkēmapa is used as the name for the twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar.
Meaning: twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 3rd syllable. It is pronounced /keː.keːˈma.pa/.
Did you know?
- In many historical Hawaiian contexts, time was measured by lunar cycles rather than the solar months like Kēkēmapa.
- In the Hawaiian alphabet, there are no letters like 'd' or 'r', which is why Kēkēmapa replaces the 'd' and 'r' sounds of 'December' with 'k' and 'p'.
- The term Kēkēmapa is borrowed from English through an intermediate form called Dekemaba.
Examples in context
- He Kēkēmapa kēia luna.This month is December.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their winter plans.
- KianaE hele ʻoe mai i Kēkēmapa?Will you come in December?
- KeanuʻAe, e hele au mai.Yes, I will come.
- KianaHauʻoli au e ʻike iā ʻoe.I am happy to see you.
- KeanuHauʻoli nō au pū.I am happy too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “December” translations and entries Kēkēmapa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Kēkēmapa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
