lani
/ˈla.ni/
The Hawaiian word for heaven is lani.
lani refers to heaven, the celestial realm or paradise. It is also used to describe the sky.
Meaning: paradise and upper-world (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word lani literally refers to the sky, heaven or anything celestial.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as an adjective or a prefix, lani denotes something that is heavenly, celestial or of royal status.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈla.ni/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
Did you know?
- The root of lani can be traced back to the Proto-Austronesian word laŋiC, meaning it shares a common ancestor with languages spoken in Madagascar and Malaysia.
- In traditional Hawaiian thought, the lani was not just a distant paradise but a realm that could be accessed by certain priests and chiefs through specific rituals.
- Because lani denotes royal status, many names of Hawaiian royalty include this word to signify their divine right to rule.
Examples in context
- mai ka lani nō ā ka honuaFrom heaven to earth, said of something done quickly, without rhyme or reasonThis sentence shows how to express the idea of moving from heaven to earth to describe something happening quickly and without rhyme or reason using lani.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a beautiful sunset.
- NoelaniKe nani kēia wahi, e Koa.This place is beautiful, Koa.
- KoaʻAe, like kēia i ka lani.Yes, this is like heaven.
- NoelaniHe paradise maʻalahi kēia.This is a simple paradise.
- KoaHe mea kupaia ka lani.Heaven is a wonderful thing.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lani, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lani, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
