kāne
/ˈkaː.ne/
The Hawaiian word for husband is kāne.
kāne refers to a male partner in marriage. It is also used as the general word for a man or a male.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Which one should you use?
While kāne can mean husband, it is the broader term for man or male. For the corresponding term meaning wife or woman, use wahine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkaː.ne/.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian mythology, Kāne is the name of one of the four great gods, the creator and god of the sunshine and fresh water.
- The term kāne is used in the phrase kāne hulu, which refers to a man with a beard.
- The word kāne originates from a combination of the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian words for 'person' and 'male'.
Example sentences for Hawaiian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Leilani is introducing Kai to a friend.
- LeilaniE nānā, ʻo Kai kēia koʻu kāne.Look, this is Kai, my husband.
- KaiAloha, Kai!Hello, Kai!
- LeilaniHe kanaka pono kona kāne.My husband is a good person.
- KaiHauʻoli au e ʻike iā ʻoe.I am happy to meet you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations and entries kāne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kāne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
