hinahina
The Hawaiian word for gray is hinahina.
hinahina is an adjective used to describe a color that falls between white and black, similar to the color of cinders.
Meaning: of a color somewhere between white and black, like cinders (adj)
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian mythology, Hina is the name of a prominent moon goddess, closely linking the color gray to the appearance of the moon.
- In the Hawaiian language, the word hina can also refer to an elderly person or a person with gray hair, linking the color directly to aging.
- The term hinahina shares a common ancestor with the Māori word hinahina, demonstrating how much of the Hawaiian vocabulary is linked across the Pacific.
Examples in context
- Hinahina ka pua liʻiliʻi.The little flower is gray.This sentence shows how to use hinahina to describe the color of a flower.Tatoeba #4856435 by nonong, translation #10162287 by ToxicFriu
- He hale hinahina kēia.This is a gray house.
Example conversation
Noelani and Ikaika are looking at a piece of clothing.
- NoelaniHe kīlauea pākaukau anei kēia?Is this a gray shirt?
- IkaikaʻAe, he kīlauea hinahina kēlā.Yes, that is a gray shirt.
- NoelaniHe lāʻau hinahina kēlā?Is that gray fabric?
- IkaikaʻAe, hinahina ia.Yes, it is gray.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hinahina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
