keiki
The Hawaiian word for kid is keiki.
keiki is used to refer to a child.
Meaning: child (colloq.) (noun)
Which one should you use?
While keiki is the standard term, you may encounter Pēpē to mean a baby or a little one and Menehune is used playfully to refer to children by invoking small mythical beings or dwarfs.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Honolulu, keiki is a common way to refer to a child.
When do people say it?
The term Menehune draws from mythology, referring to small mythical beings and is used playfully when speaking about children.
Did you know?
- In Hawaiian culture, keiki does not just describe a biological child but can be used to refer to anyone who is the youngest in a group or family.
- The word keiki is a distant linguistic relative of the word 'child' used in other Eastern Polynesian languages, stemming from the reconstructed ancestral root *taiti.
- The word keiki is often used in the names of specific prices or menus at Hawaiian businesses to indicate a discounted rate for children.
Examples in context
- He keiki kēlā.That is a kid.
- He keiki nani kēia.This is a cute kid.
Example conversation
Noelani and Koa are talking about a neighborhood child.
- NoelaniHe keiki akamai loa ʻia ʻoe, Koa.You are a very smart kid, Koa.
- KoaMahalo, Noelani.Thank you, Noelani.
- NoelaniAia ʻoe i ka hale kura?Are you at the school house?
- KoaʻAe, he keiki haʻawina au.Yes, I am a student kid.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry keiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries keiki, CC BY-SA 4.0.
