kaikamahine
/ˌkai̯.ka.maˈhi.ne/
The English word girl is translated into Hawaiian as kaikamahine. Wiktionary also lists wahine ʻōpio.
Meaning: young female person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hawaiian | IPA |
|---|---|
| kaikamahine | /ˌkai̯.ka.maˈhi.ne/ |
| wahine ʻōpio |
The term is used to refer to a young female person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase wahine ʻōpio is a literal combination of wahine, meaning woman and ʻōpio, meaning young or new.
Which one should you use?
kaikamahine is the standard term for a girl. In contrast, wahine ʻōpio is a more descriptive way to say 'young woman'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Hawaiian nouns do not change form to indicate plurality. Instead, the number is indicated by context or by using words such as hele (many).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of kaikamahine is /ˌkai̯.ka.maˈhi.ne/. It has 5 syllables, and the stress is on the 4th syllable.
Did you know?
- The word wahine descends from the Proto-Austronesian root *bahi, linking the Hawaiian word for 'woman' to languages spoken across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
- In traditional Hawaiian culture, the distinction between kaikamahine and wahine was often based on social maturity and roles rather than a strict chronological age.
- The term wahine ʻōpio uses the word ʻōpio, which is the same word used to describe something 'new' or 'fresh', like a new sprout or a new beginning.
Examples in context
- He kaikamahine au.I am a girl.This sentence is useful for learning how to use kaikamahine to state your identity.Tatoeba #3083413 by RoyalBee, translation #2363944 by kerbear407
- He kaikamahine kēlā.That is a girl.
- He kaikamahine kēlā ke keiki.That child is a girl.
Example conversation
Keanu and Malia are talking about a child at the park.
- KeanuʻO wai ka kaikamahine?Who is that girl?
- MaliaʻO kaikamahine kōkē ʻo ia.She is a little girl.
- KeanuHe hoaaloha mai ia?Is she a friend of yours?
- MaliaʻAe, ʻo kaikamahine ʻohana ia.Yes, she is a girl from the family.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “girl” translations and entries kaikamahine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaikamahine, wahine, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
