kaikaina
/kai̯ˈkai̯.na/
The Hawaiian phrase for "little brother" is kaikaina.
kaikaina refers to a male sibling who is younger than the speaker. It can be used specifically for a younger brother or more broadly for any younger male sibling.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term kaikaina is used for both a younger brother and a younger male sibling in general.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. The IPA pronunciation is /kai̯ˈkai̯.na/.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, terms like kaikaina can be extended to close friends or peers to signify a familial bond, treating a non-relative as a younger brother.
- While kaikaina is specifically for a younger brother, the Hawaiian language has distinct terms for brothers based on whether they are older or younger, regardless of whether they are full or half-siblings.
- The prefix kai- in kaikaina acts as a specialized marker used to categorize relationships, a feature common in many Polynesian languages to denote kinship.
Examples in context
- Ke aloha nui iā kāu kaikaina!Lots of love to your little brother!
- E hele ana ka kaikaina.The little brother is going.
Example conversation
Kiana is introducing her sibling to Keanu.
- KianaKeanu, e hālāwai me koʻu kaikaina.Keanu, meet my little brother.
- KeanuAloha! He inoa aha ʻoe?Hello! What is your name?
- KianaHe kaikaina ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi ʻole ʻo ia.He is a little brother who doesn't speak Hawaiian.
- KeanuʻOiaʻiʻo, he hihiʻi kēlā.Indeed, that is a shame.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kaikaina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaikaina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
