Ianuali
/i.a.nuˈa.li/
Ianuali is the Hawaiian word for January.
Ianuali refers to the first month of the Gregorian calendar.
Meaning: first month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 5 syllables, with the stress on the 4th syllable: /i.a.nuˈa.li/.
Did you know?
- The pronunciation of Ianuali avoids the 'r' sound entirely because the Hawaiian language has no 'r' phoneme, substituting it always with 'l'.
- While Ianuali is used for the calendar, traditional Hawaiian timekeeping relied on the kaulana mahina or lunar calendar, where months were named after specific moon phases and seasonal events.
- The word Ianuali is a phonetic adaptation of the English word 'January' to fit the Hawaiian language's unique sound system.
Examples in context
- Aloha! I hope you had a great Ianuali (January) and a wonderful start to the year.Aloha! I hope you had a great January and a wonderful start to the year.
- He Ianuali kēia.This is January.
Example conversation
Malia and Keanu are discussing their vacation plans.
- MaliaKe aha ka lā o kāu huakaʻi?What is the date of your trip?
- KeanuE hele au i Ianuali.I am going in January.
- MaliaHe wā maikaʻi kēlā no ka huakaʻi.That is a good time for a trip.
- KeanuʻAe, e hoʻomaikaʻi ana au i ka makahiki hou.Yes, I will be celebrating the new year.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “January” translations and entries Ianuali, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ianuali, CC BY-SA 4.0.
