Keoni
/keˈo.ni/
The English name John is translated into Hawaiian as Keoni.
Keoni is used as the Hawaiian equivalent for the male given name John.
Meaning: male given name (name)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /keˈo.ni/.
Did you know?
- In the 19th century, many Hawaiian converts to Christianity adopted Keoni as a way to align their identity with Western religious traditions.
- The spelling of Keoni follows the strict rules of Hawaiian orthography, where every syllable must end in a vowel.
- Because the letter 'j' does not exist in the Hawaiian alphabet, any English name starting with 'j' is typically adapted using 'k'.
Examples in context
- Keoni ko'u inoa.My name is John.
- Aloha, Keoni! Pehea 'oe i kēia lā?Aloha, Keoni! How are you doing today?
- He Keoni kēlā.That is Keoni.
- Ua ʻike ʻoe iā Keoni?Have you seen Keoni?
- He hoa pono ʻo Keoni.Keoni is a good friend.
Example conversation
Kai and Leilani are looking for a friend at a gathering.
- KaiAia ʻo Keoni!There is Keoni!
- LeilaniʻAʻole, ʻole kēlā ʻo Keoni.No, that is not Keoni.
- KaiHe aha ka inoa o kēlā kanaka?What is that person's name?
- LeilaniʻAʻole ʻimi mai KeoniKeoni is not here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “john” translations and entries Keoni, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
