koloa
The Hawaiian word for duck is koloa.
koloa is a noun used to refer to an aquatic bird of the family Anatidae.
Meaning: aquatic bird of the family Anatidae (noun)
Did you know?
- The word koloa can be used as a name for people or places in Hawaii. It is common to find geographical features or family surnames derived from the names of native animals.
- Hawaiian does not have a single, distinct word for 'goose' or 'swan' as English does. Instead, koloa is the general term used for most birds in the Anatidae family.
- The word koloa is shared across the Pacific, appearing as toloa in Samoan and Tongan. This reflects the ancient migrations of Polynesian peoples who carried their vocabulary for nature across thousands of miles of ocean.
Examples in context
- He koloa kēlā.That is a duck.
- Ua ʻike au i ka koloa.I saw the duck.
Example conversation
Ikaika and Kiana are walking by a pond.
- IkaikaNānā, he koloa kēlā!Look, that is a duck!
- KianaʻAe, he koloa nani loa ia.Yes, it is a very beautiful duck.
- IkaikaE holo ana ka koloa i ka wai.The duck is going into the water.
- KianaHe mea hauʻoli ka nānā ʻana.It is a pleasure to watch.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries koloa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
