lau
/ˈlau̯/
The Hawaiian word for leaf is lau.
The word lau refers to a part of a plant. It can be used to describe a single leaf or to refer to foliage and leaves in a general sense.
Meaning: part of a plant (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify the type of leaf you are talking about, you use the structure [leaf] + [plant name], such as lau koli for a leaf of a cabbage.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlau̯/
Did you know?
- The word lau is a homonym that can also mean the number 'hundred'.
- The Hawaiian lau is a distant relative of the Malay word daun and the Tagalog word dahon.
- The term lauhala refers specifically to the leaves of the pandanus tree, which are historically woven into mats and sails.
Examples in context
- lau halaPandanus leaf
- He lau kēia.This is a leaf.
Example conversation
Leilani and Keanu are looking at a plant together.
- LeilaniE nānā i kēia lau!Look at this leaf!
- KeanuHe lau nani kēlā, Leilani.That is a beautiful leaf, Leilani.
- LeilaniHe lau iela kēlā?Is that a yellow leaf?
- KeanuʻAe, he lau iela kēlā.Yes, that is a yellow leaf.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leaf” translations and entries lau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
