kula
/ˈku.la/
The English word 'golden' is translated into Hawaiian as kula.
kula is an adjective used to describe something that is made of gold or is relating to gold.
Meaning: made of, or relating to, gold (adj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈku.la/ and has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- The word kula is a homonym that can also mean 'school' in Hawaiian.
- The term kula shares an ancestral root with the Proto-Polynesian word *tula, which meant 'bald' or 'bare'.
- Before the English word 'gold' was adopted, the Hawaiian language used the term ʻulaʻula to describe certain reddish or golden hues.
Example conversation
Noelani and Kai are looking at jewelry in a store.
- NoelaniE nānā i kēia kulaLook at this golden one.
- KaiHe nani loa ia.That is very beautiful.
- NoelaniMakemake au i ka kula.I like the golden color.
- KaiKupuna kēlā.That is an heirloom.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kula, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kula, CC BY-SA 4.0.
