hui
/ˈhu.i/
The Hawaiian word for "hey" is hui.
hui is used as an informal greeting.
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables. The stress is on the first of 2 syllables. The IPA is /ˈhu.i/.
Did you know?
- The term shares an ancestral connection with the word for a 'collection' or 'assembly' in many Pacific island languages.
- The word hui is a doublet of huihui, which means a collection or assembly.
- In some Polynesian languages like Tahitian, the related term hui refers to a 'group' or 'collection' rather than a person.
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a park.
- NoelaniHui, Koa!Hey, Koa!
- KoaAloha, Noelani.Hello, Noelani.
- NoelaniHe aha ka hana?What's up?
- KoaʻOlelo wale aku.Just talking.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hui, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
