kēkake
The Hawaiian word for donkey is kēkake.
The word refers to a donkey, which is a type of domestic animal.
Meaning: a domestic animal (noun)
Did you know?
- Because donkeys were not part of the original Polynesian ecosystem, there is no ancient, indigenous Hawaiian word for the animal that predates Western contact.
- The word kēkake uses a kahakō, the macron over the 'ē', to indicate a long vowel sound.
- In Hawaiian linguistic history, many words for introduced animals follow this pattern of adapting English sounds into the Hawaiian alphabet.
Examples in context
- Ua ʻike au iā ka kēkake.I saw the donkey.
Example conversation
Leilani and Ikaika are visiting a farm.
- LeilaniHe aha kēlā mea?What is that thing?
- IkaikaHe kēkake kēlā, Leilani.That is a donkey, Leilani.
- LeilaniHe mea nani kēlā kēkake.That donkey is beautiful.
- IkaikaʻAe, he mea akamai kēlā.Yes, it is a smart one.
