ʻīlio
/ʔiːˈli.o/
The English word "dog" is translated into Hawaiian as ʻīlio.
ʻīlio is the noun used to refer to the animal known as a dog.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables. The stress is on the second syllable: /ʔiːˈli.o/.
Did you know?
- The word ʻīlio begins with an ʻokina, a glottal stop that is a full consonant in Hawaiian, not just a punctuation mark.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, ʻīlio were highly valued for their hunting abilities and companionship, often appearing in ancient chants.
- The word ʻīlio belongs to a vast family of words stretching across the Pacific, from the Tongan kulī to the Tahitian ʻurī, all tracing back to a single Proto-Oceanic source.
Examples in context
- He ʻīlio kēia.This is a dog.
- Makemake i ka ʻīlio kēia ke keiki.This child wants a dog.
- He ʻīlio nani kēia.This is a beautiful dog.
Example conversation
Koa and Kiana are at a park.
- KoaHe ʻīlio nani kēlā!That is a beautiful dog!
- KianaʻAe, he ʻīlio kō mākou.Yes, it is our dog.
- KoaHiki ia ke hele mai?Can it come here?
- KianaʻAe, he ʻīlio naʻauao kēia.Yes, this is a smart dog.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations and entries ʻīlio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
